Originally Posted by
Packrat
Yeah, it was interesting. However the fact that he was totally wrong about how ALPA National "finances" the MECs. He obviously has NEVER been an MEC Secretary/Treasurer. If he had any experience in that job he would have been embarrassed to post what he did.
Considering how far off base he was on that subject, I give him the same level of credibility on the rest of his post.
Anyone who has been on the inside of an MEC during contract negotiations KNOWS all National can do is advise. If the individual MEC refuses to acknowledge and follow National's advice, things can go bad VERY quickly.
National only signs the final product AFTER it has been negotiated, agreed to and ratified. National's signature is really just a formality.
But, let's NEVER stop facts from interfering with people's belief in cockpit stories.
Formality my wrinkled arse!
Packrat, I think you've been drinking too much Koolaid brother.. - come back to us!
..Once upon a time I was a sitting MEC member and I can categorically tell you that you are the one who is incorrect. What may be happening here is that you have been lied to by people you believe in. ALPA pilot groups are notoriously manipulated and micromanaged by their MEC's who are mere puppets of National. They seek committee and MEC members that will "play ball" and who are easily subservient toward the overall agenda of National. They are not above lying and blatant manipulation.
There were several occasions where our MEC was hamstrung by National on what we wanted to do budget wise..they simply would not approve anything they felt would deteriorate whatever goal they were currently working towards. We were threatened with budget reductions by National on more than one occasion.
Though MEC's have "on paper" control over their budgets there is still very real oversight by National. If you don't understand that then I urge you to start asking some questions.
All that being said I won't discount the possibility that things are different at your carrier. But you also need to concede that things aren't quite as "on paper" rosey schmosey on other properties..ALPA has real problems with how it represents Regional pilot groups...The blame is just as much on National as it is on Local MEC's for crap wages and crap CBAs. It's a complete failure of the union from the top down, not a single sided conundrum.