Originally Posted by
suddenimpact
A lot of what you say as their proxy is true. A lot of what BK did to get us in this situation was not mentioned.
Much of this circles around credibility. The company obviously is going to say what ever they need to for a better deal. Our leadership elected by a majority of new members unaware of their credibility but liked what they had to say vs the reality we are collectively having to live out now is showing it's face.
- BK embarrassed us collectively as pilots in the 90's and served his time. He was part of the team that dragged out the Polar-Atlas merger. He had to play "I'm the new sheriff in town" drop kicking company leadership in the nards as soon as he could once elected establishing a rather negative situation right off the bat. Members are now regularly questioning what he says because of his past statements that don't match up to the later truth. I noticed that right off knowing much of our history. I could go on but won't.
- CK is little better having sabotaged the previous administrations efforts to improve our retirement by posting about a possible LOA on APC here that was being negotiated and how it was going to be shoved down our throats which was untrue. Not sure if he was really worried about it or if he just needed something to use for his campaign to get elected. Would have been nice to work from a better LOA on retirement voted on by the membership vs none as we are now due to his efforts. He gave the company an excuse to back out once it hit these forums.
- Can't say much about YP. He does what he is told, looking at some of his past posts carrying the message of the day.
While I would much prefer holding these types of conversations among our own, our leadership has stopped that also. Unwilling to listen to the membership as listed earlier on the official web forums preventing posts to them and the facebook page that actively restricts members posts and members allowed to access it.
I would much rather have our own little private union playground for all of this to transpire on since the company does watch these pages along with the facebook page--regularly! But they took that away from us and this is what we have left since the leadership you mentioned won't even answer the union emergency number for those not willing to kiss their posteriors. So much for DFR in the union. Another rule they don't bother with.
If you doubt the company spends time watching several online forums and our facebook page, here is an example of them watching and refreshing regularly from Purchase a few years ago. This is a shot of a few views of about eleven thousand lines of views where one of our now ExCo used these forums to sabotage a retirement LOA and/or help his election to office. The highlighted parts are a few of the Atlas company viewings of the postings. I pulled all the super sensitive stuff and replaced it with the term Netscape.
HERE is also a whois search for the IP address.
The same IP shows up on the GC_Comms facebook page also.
So our leadership needs to think more than just one step ahead at a time. This game is chess and our leadership is playing checkers.
For now, it looks like we are doomed to finish waiting for the courts and then arbiters to decide.
I've been around 7 years so I'm aware of recent history more than the average guy. I haven't been around as long as you to have the perspective of BK from the merger, but I will say this... The "new" guys only had one slate to vote for because nobody else cared to run including you. If some of the older guys had issues with BK prior to 2015 then maybe one of them should've put together a slate.
As for CK shutting down the pension that they were dangling in front of us like Lucy with a football... Young guys such as myself are intelligent enough to know that if Delta, American and United will steal your pension that Atlas would try to file bankruptcy with record profits to steal mine. Teamsters? Are people serious about Teamsters managing their retirement? I'm all for an Industry Standard Retirement but I would like a say as to what that will be. None - NONE of the younger guys want a pension. None. Furthermore... What happens to everyone who comes to Atlas and leaves? I'm not likely to retire at Atlas. What do I get for my 7 years of punishment at Atlas? That was an extremely selfish move for the old guys to attempt to ram a pension that Atlas will raid down our throats. I bet the surveys yielded an 80% or more support for a direct contribution into a 401k. I am not privy to that information though.
I don't ever have trouble getting a hold of leadership and don't know anyone who does. I understand there's a personality conflict in your situation. Maybe accusing them of stealing money has something to do with that. If you want to change rules then fine but the accusations are over the line. That being said they still take your calls on crew call ins and try to listen. Maybe a personal apology for the accusations would help. If you have proof they're stealing then maybe the authorities would be a more appropriate venue for this than APC.
Leadership is well aware they watch this stuff on line. I know I heard them talk about it on a crew call in. I fully agree that I see things said that shouldn't be both on Facebook and here. The company was allegedly able to see the message board that nobody uses anymore as well.
I also agree that we're looking at years and years of court decisions to settle this out. Sadly that's our best option, though I do know that Amalgamation does have it supporters among us.
Cheers and I'll see you out on the line!