Anybody remember Fast Times at Ridgemont High?

Our MEC/LEC are the two cheerleaders at the pep rally trying to build up spirit amongst the student body, represented by our crew force.

The irony is that ALPA is set up with such archaic and inane bylaws and rules that trying to get involved is much more painful than sitting on the sidelines and watching the grass grow. It was apparent today that many pilots have tried to make their points to the MEC/LEC and have been met with the same mantra repeated over and over again. The MEC/LEC members have not been listening, they have been talking down dissension and disagreement with an overwhelming bully pulpit.

Eventually even the hardiest soul will give up when they have beaten their head against the wall enough times, and I am afraid that many of us have reached that point. People ARE trying, and they are being stymied by the very organization that purports to represent us. So be it.

Enough of the protestations to have an better plan or get involved from the uninvolved masses. The leadership has made it clear they would prefer we pay our dues and vote yes to whatever they propose, and we have let them.

I simply hope that the current leadership has some kind of magic bean in their hip pocket to bring the disenchanted back into the fold before our next contract. I agree with them that we need to be unified, but I disagree with them over WHY we are not unified. That will likely never change, hopefully they are right and I am wrong.

FJ