Originally Posted by
GunshipGuy
Carl, you kind of hit the nail on the head for me...as a fDAL guy I came in having been anti-union in mindset since birth. But during my first two weeks on property we go over to the DALPA building during indoc and we get the big warm welcome (which was nice), plied with alcohol and food, and oh, by the way, you're still going to pay most of these dues even if you don't sign up. So, I sign up. I'm a union guy now. But isn't my union supposed to be fighting to improve our contract for me and my fellow pilots? Sure doesn't seem like they're working to get our pay to where MOST of us think it should be. Why not more talk about where our pay should be? Why does my union spend more time talking about the threat the company keeps pointing to--foreign carriers? Sure, I get it, they're a threat to pilot jobs in our country. But doesn't it seem convenient that that's the topic we hear so much about from our union and the company as far as what we should be concerned about? And if it's not that then it's new FAA rules. Why don't I hear hardly anything about how we need to get our pay back to where it should be? (I say hardly, because I haven't heard anything, but maybe there's been some mention of this as an objective somewhere). It's as if they don't want to attract any negative attention from the company or show any indication of being on a different page from the company. So, yes, DALPA, you convinced me to join your union, but it's weird--I don't feel like I'm in a union based on how hunky dory the relationship is. The last thing I'm suggesting is that DALPA seek a contentious relationship; I don't pretend to think that would be good for any of us. But the BFF relationship? I guess that's good if you like the status quo.
Gunship Guy,
Just speaking for myself, you write like a man with nearly no understanding of the process. You've not been interested in learning and have not volunteered (going on your statement, I do not know you).
The reality is Delta is our employer. You seem to recognize the mutually beneficial situation we have here; Delta does well, we do well. Delta management sits on the other side of the table, but they are not the enemy unless the situation calls for us to treat them as such. Since we work for Delta, attacking them ends up harming us over the long run.
So the best way to advocate for you is a series of very measured actions. Trying to take ground where we can, trying not to set off an all out war. A peaceful partnership that benefits both sides is optimum and that is where both sides try to keep the peace.
We maintain situational awareness by looking out the window at the other reference points. Which of those other airlines would you prefer to work for, other than Delta, and why? Is the reason you would perfer to work for another carrier based on anything your union has done, or has not done? Or are they in a different business, like cargo. Objectively, I look out the window and Delta is, at least in my mind, the #1 job with the #1 pay in the passenger business.
Yes, my career has stagnated horribly. We merged and I've not yet recovered, but, wasn't that management's call? ALPA got me quite a substantial pay raise, stock and improved my contract. ALPA did it through partnership more than combativeness. As a result, not only is our pay near the top, but our airline is growing and the best competitor I've ever seen in the marketplace.
ALPA will absolutely work to make things better. Their work never stops. As we type they are working on optimizing FAR 117 for us, they are trying to get more flying for us on the Virgin JV and they are helping indviduals with many myriad issues that nobody talks about.
Richard Anderson was an attorney under Frank Lorenzo. He has seen labor wars fought, and his side won. Continental is still here and the Eastern pilots mostly exited the profession. He is a very smart man who sees the value of working together.
I'm not sure what kind of emotional speach to the troops you are wanting your union to create; we actually get better results by taking these skirmishes on one by one and winning.
Of course, if you are frustrated by the lack of progress, grab a corner and lift. There are always opportunities to serve.
Respectfully, BB