Originally Posted by
Cruise
Newsflash: at a minimum, the MEC Chairman SHOULD be out on a full buy doing union work for all of us. We should have between 1-3 people out on full buys right now serving our pilot group. As we continue to grow, more people will be out doing union work....at the moment I don't believe that's happening because of the hatred some in our group have for FPL. Union work is time consuming! Ideally, we should have several out on partial buys as well. AND, as we roll into negotiations, there should be at least another 1-2 people out on full buys doing negotiation work for all of us. Our dues money is there for us to use for the group, not just hold in reserve for a war chest. That's how a fully functioning ALPA group works. All this said, it's important those on a full buy remain current....just because you're on a buy doesn't mean you should never fly. Furthermore, any trips picked up while on a full buy should go to reduce their FPL obligation, not pad their monthly credit. That helps keep everything on the up and up.
Agreed. Having done ALPA volunteer work here and other airlines, I can attest that it is certainly tireless work and that reps should be allowed the opportunity to drop trips to work for the pilot group as necessary (including to attend certain "appreciation" social functions). Absolutely no issue at all with that! HOWEVER, it is also vitally important that this information be made available to all dues paying members. We do have a SPA ALPA website. It should be published periodically there. Who's dropping, how much and for what. "September: Rep XYZ, 22:30 4-day, attended ALPA Jumpseat Chairman's meetings in Washington D.C." This is one of the duties of the MEC Secretary-Treasurer. Keeping track of the drops, authorizing FPL payments and keeping the books open to the membership.
Now, let us understand why so much suspicion about "closed books" ensues amongst the ranks. Do you remember a couple of years ago a certain committee chairman, while out on a long-term medical (inactive status) doing ALPA
volunteer work at home, and receiving full FPL month after month? If you recall, this scheme was only uncovered because of one pilot, with big cojones, personally went to Herndon to see the books. Why was this happening? Is this happening now? We don't know. Transparency leads to accountability which leads to cohesiveness and an effective functioning organization.
Trust, but verify. Tell me, am I wrong?