TonyC

The Block System we use (an option under the current ALPA C&B-L) recognizes domiciles and/or bases, and in large bases breaks things down by seniority.

I don't know how your roughly 2,700 pilots are distributed among 5 domiciles, but let's say for example they're broken down like this:

JFK - 950
BOS - 550
FLL - 350
MCO - 600
LGB - 250

One way of using the Block Rep would be to assign one Rep each to the smaller domiciles, LGB and FLL, and break down the larger domiciles into 2 or 3 seniority blocks. BOS and MCO would get 2 reps, and JFK would have 3. Each domicile would have it's own Local Council. Using some made-up Local Council numbers, it might look like this.

Local Council 991 - JFK - The members of LC 991 are divided into 3 seniority blocks, Block J1, J2, and J3. All members of the Local Council get to vote for 3 representatives, one for each of the seniority blocks. (Each Block Rep must be in that Seniority Block, but all members of the Local Council get to vote for all 3 Reps.) Then they get to vote to determine which of the 3 elected reps will serve as the Local Council Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary Treasurer. All three sit on the Master Executive Council (MEC).

Local Council 992 - BOS - and Local Council 994 - MCO - The members of both councils are divided into 2 seniority blocks, Block B1 and B2, and Block M1 and M2. All members of both Local Councils get to vote for 2 representatives, one for each of the seniority blocks, and then they get to vote to determine which of the 2 elected reps will serve as the Local Council Chairman, Vice-Chairman and then a 3rd person to serve as Secretary Treasurer. The Local Council Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen sit on the Master Executive Council (MEC). The Secretary-Treasurer serves as a "Non-Status Representative." He serves in the Local Council, but does not have a vote on the MEC.

Local Council 993 - FLL - and Local Council 995 - LGB - The members of both councils are in a single block, Block F1 and Block L1. All members of both Local Councils get to vote for Local Council Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Secretary-Treasurer. The Local Council Chairmen sit on the Master Executive Council (MEC). The Vice-Chairmen and Secretary-Treasurers serve as "Non-Status Representatives". They serve in the Local Council, but do not have a vote on the MEC.

Each domicile has a Local Council. Each MEC Representative represents roughly 300 pilots arranged first by base, and then by seniority. Every pilot has a Representative in his own base. In a large base, each pilot's Representative is relatively close to him in seniority.

When the 9 MEC Reps sit down at the table, each pilot can be comfortable that at least 1 of the MEC Reps is looking out for pilots just like him. If the MEC commits to vote by Block Rep, reserving "roll call" votes for only the most rare situations, and strives to build consensus rather than settling for a simple majority, you would be surprised at how each Block Rep's opinion and vote becomes important. In our case, a Block Rep representing 120 pilots in HKG has as loud a voice as the Block Rep representing the most senior 450 pilots in Memphis.

Of course, I have no idea how the pilots are actually distributed through those 5 domiciles, so the numbers are likely off, but you can get the idea from my example. Obviously, the system would be tailored for your specific situation, and can change as you change.






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