Originally Posted by
scambo1
Sorry it took me so long to respond. I think you answered your own question. DALPA does the survey and gets their reference points...DONE. Now the membership is out of the loop until TA time.
I'm not going to go all in on cost neutral here, but in c12, do you think people asked to trade profit sharing? Do you, in your heart of hearts, believe the 717s weren't coming? Do you believe CDOs were at the "direction of the pilots?"
The rank and file, IMO, are seen as rabble to too many at the higher levels of D/ALPA. Too easy to control using fear and doubt. My opinion is that the survey is summarily disregarded by many after openers are exchanged...instead of being used as a touch stone during negotiations. Dissenters to this approach and dissenters to the company want list are attacked and shouted down then, later drummed out.
I haven't flown with anyone who thinks concessions in any form are acceptable. Most of the guys I fly with believe firmly that the company should max our 401ks every year. My microcosm may or may not be reflective of the wants of a majority of pilots.
Short story long, trust but verify hasn't worked, in my view, for a long time.
I agree with most of what you write but I'm a bit less skeptical I guess. It's a democracy but once all sides have been presented a decision on how to proceed has to be made and the group unified. Congress is completely disfunctional because people are more concerned with picking a side than working together for the common good. I don't think disfunction works to our advantage. Just my opinion. Compromise is part of leadership and working with different opinions.
I also agree that there's absolutely no need for any meaningful concessions. We made enough concessions (mainly forced) in the last 15 years for 2 careers. Tweaks are going to be on the table as the price of negotiations. Enjoying Umphrey's McGee by the way. Thanks.