Originally Posted by
Stoutbrewer
It's not about his experience for me, although I think the Spirit group has been around long enough, and seen enough, that a study of our history should be part of new entrance. For example, we went through a rough time when a single carrier group of pilots ruled us lead by a very charismatic rep. Croneyism was a problem then, as were dissenting opinions, and phrases like "nothing is going to stand in my way" meant trouble. It's the behavior that gives pause, not JA's experience, because it reminds some of us of some dark days. The fact that the majority of this group comes from a single carrier...
Fair enough.
Having said that, it's incumbent on newcomers to work within our union and be effective, not try to remake our union in the image of a former carrier.
Maybe true; however, to say that the union is being remade in the image of a former carrier is an assumption rather than a fact. Keep in mind that JA is the Chairman,
not the MEC. The MEC still makes policy.
Again, at their very first MEC meeting it was incumbent on them to sit across the table from the MEC and achieve consensus or give fair warning that the end is near.
Agreed, but I would call a 6-0 vote consensus. The Chairman does not get a vote except to break a tie. That should remind us that whether he agrees or not is irrelevant. It is his responsibility to carry out the policies of the MEC, as I quoted directly from the Constitution.
Arguments and threats should have been won or lost on the strength of their convictions. If C and P failed to comply then they could have easily been recalled at MEC meeting number 2.
Agreed again. My only reservation with that is that they had already shown a refusal to comply. If 4 of 6 members had reason to believe that nothing would change between now and the next meeting, then I can only trust their judgement on that because I wasn't privy to the meetings. That said, I think your argument may be valid.
Sometimes you just can't replace sitting across the table from folks getting your crazy out in the open.
Yup. I actually might add that to my list of great quotes.
Lastly, no matter his experience, it is never a good idea from a human nature standpoint, or one of accountability, to be cut off from the herd. The entire MEC should have attended him, introducing him to Bendo, presenting a unified front even if things were rocky among the 6 of them.
Totally, but I don't know the details of how all of that happened, so even though I love a good verbal joust, I won't comment further.