So what REALLY brings you here?

I DO have a "dog" in this fight, because I AM a line Captain.

What "good" ideas? Like how the union needs to perform job actions for the MOU they AGREED to? How bad Parker and Kirby treat their pilots? You mean like how the pilots on these forum threads REALLY know much about unionism anyway? Hell they can't even name the founders of the APA or ALPA, nor do they care.

So I need help yet YOU don't have a "dog" in this fight?

Really? REALLY?

I treat my fellow crew members with the highest respect and courtesy every flight and I have NEVER had a complaint....NONE.

I've NEVER busted a checkride. NEVER.

I've followed SOP to the best of my abilities since I got hired and so far have not had to report to the Chief Pilot for any violation of Company policy. In short, I do what I'm paid to do and what the contract allows for.

I really like flying for a major airline.

Hell, I even LIKE the new uniform.

However, I think there ARE constructive ideas that the UNION needs to address... yet they (APA and ALPA) continue to use systemic flaws of business operations that went out the door with deregulation, 9/11, the great recession, fuel prices just to name a few.

Are they spoken about HERE on the FORUM? Only if you view unionism the old way like the majority of the pos(t)ers here do.

In fact, the APA is twisting in the wind NOW for the MOU that came into effect less than a year ago and the Pilots are whining about how little money they make because of a deal that I SAID COULD BE IMPROVED (yet got voted in by the majority of LUS pilots)!!

But no, I'm not anti-union. I'm anti-stupidity for simply saying that there is a better way but you have to take the TIME to prepare for the future. Hopefully you're preparing for your future in a reasonable manner.

Here, want to learn SOMETHING about American Airlines since you always liked them get this: they've offered them MORE than the contract allows to bring up pay more in line (though NOT Delta) with industry rates. Yet the pilots here at APA (former East USAPA pilots) make the incredulous EXCUSE to cover for the APA:

"It's also important to understand that before USAPA's involvement, CEO Parker met with the APA board and "promised" them that should the company capture the synergies, revenues and profits earlier than anticipated, he would bring the pilots' pay up earlier than the negotiated three-year mid-contract adjustment. Specifically, Doug Parker told APA: "When we make Delta profits, I'll pay you Delta wages."He also told the APA board that because this Delta pay issue may be problematic with the unsecured creditors, he couldn't make it a part of the written contract, but he assured APA this would occur. The problem is that in the company's recent "take it or leave it" proposal, we would be paid "Delta wages" for only the first year of the contract; we would then trail them for many years beyond. Their proposal, of course, also didn't include profit-sharing, which last year equated to an additional 15% for Delta pilots and was conditional on accepting several work rule concessions."

So here you can learn SOMETHING if you are an "aspiring" Airman for a major airline: "you'll ONLY get paid for what you negotiate and GET IT IN WRITING" because "promises" from management are just that. If it's not in writing, YOU WON'T GET IT! Yet of ALL the unions in the world the APA of all of them should know better yet they keep doing the same ole same ole.

And if you DO get it in writing do not expect any promises to give you more until the next contract is PLANNED FOR and completed.

So, is PLANNING a BAD IDEA???