Originally Posted by
oldmako
Glad to have the funds, but I will forever disagree on the execution.
Must say I am disappointed that so many are already prepping to fold their tents and are getting the white flags ready.
Oscar says 4B (or is it 5?) in profits within just a few years. Who are we to disagree? He's just now starting to get the synergy-wagon in gear. Although, this weeks snow in ORD shoots a big hole in that theory.
It's not so much of a white flag and a folding of the tent. It's more like a "Really", "Oh Really" moment. You mean ALPA knew this was their moment to get this handled and taken care of. For me, it personally demonstrates how ineffectual ALPA is at safe-guarding the career and the profession. If we can't protect it from absolutely illegitimate and unfair competition then what can we do?
It really also demonstrates what the Obama administration thinks of the airline industry. Obama doesn't think of us as "labor". Only card carrying union members who won't likely lose jobs. He doesn't care if we all take pay cuts some day. That doesn't affect him, particularly because this isn't a legacy issue for him and his party lost the election so he really doesn't give a flip.
Not much different in my opinion as to how Bill Clinton handled NAFTA. now over 20 years later we find out where the land mines are in that so called free trade agreement.
There will be increasing downward pressure on labor rates across trans-atlantic routes due to Open Skies and the NAI scheme. If point to point within the USA gets approved for NAI this will get very interesting.
Maybe we need to form another legislative affairs coalition outside of ALPA to assist in representing our interests and those of the career at large. Maybe pilots from all the US airlines need a more unified and more forceful agent to drive results.....Just a thought...
I am not impressed with how ALPA handled the entire issue. Do we need to have the ALPA leadership more closely scrutinized?