Originally Posted by
Rather B Fishin 
Our union does fight for us. Every pilot that gets reimbursed for an incorrect assignment is a win. Every pilot that doesn't get disciplined for an indiscretion is a win. Every pilot who goes through a training review board/probationary pilot review board and then goes on to successfully meet the criteria is a win. Every time the company pays out for a PWA violation w/o having to go to arbitration is a win. There are countless of unseen victories/fights each and every day.
Originally Posted by
Carl Spackler
I agree, but that's not what we were talking about. We were talking about a union that flights for us as a contract bargaining agent. Tsquare does not want to fight management. Period. My question was why then do we need a union? You seem to be stating that it's for your examples above. Maybe that's enough for some.
Carl
Good post, Carl. I guess maybe that's what it comes down to with the majority of us. I learned somewhere back around 2nd grade that there are times you just have to fight for yourself or you will continue to be bullied. Maybe the majority of this pilot group doesn't consider being compensated today at a level roughly comparable to the way we were compensated after taking a draconian pay cut in an extreme crisis as being bullied. Maybe the majority have accepted this "new reality"/standard for airline pilot compensation.
The last thing in the world I want to do is fight with our management. I want Delta Air Lines to be the most successful airline/company on the planet. And that is best accomplished by EVERYONE working together as a team to provide the very best product possible to our valued customers. But if you accept the premise that we are in fact being "bullied" by being compensated at a bankruptcy level when our industry has been restructured in such a positive way and our company is making such amazing profits, then it's quite possibly going to take a little standing up for ourselves to rectify that. I guess the majority, while many are not happy with the situation, are not willing to stand up and fight if necessary. How can our management respect us when we don't even demonstrate that we respect ourselves?
I'm clearly in the minority here, so I think I'll be joining tsquare in leaving this place (APC). If you guys decide at some point in the future to stand up for our profession, then you'll have my support (and I'll consider putting that ALPA pin back on). Otherwise, I'll continue voting no to any agreement that doesn't substantially restore our pay and I'll continue loving my job and giving it 110% just like I always do. That's about all I can do... I can't force anyone else to stand up for themselves. There's way more to life than money so I'm happy either way.