Originally Posted by
FlighTimeBarbie
I can see significant edits and revisions to the resolution as it passes through the various hands in the process, but indeed a policy - that reflects the seriousness of doing work on behalf of Delta pilots and the integrity and professionalism demanded of the calling - is long overdue. Such work should be considered duty time, having the same requirements with regard to alcohol, and requiring the same seriousness, judgement and decision making as flying the line. Maybe they need to sign an FDRA (a little humor)?
Over the years there has been a lot of bad behavior at union gatherings, much of it influenced by alcohol. There have been troubling things occurring that affect the lives of pilots. Let’s hope this is a wake up call. There is, and has been, a lot of anger. I have no dog in this fight; however, I can’t help but wonder... the example it would set, what it might do for unity within the leadership and at large if the ATL rep were to drop, or not press charges. The offending party will pay a high cost regardless.
I disagree with the characterization that there has been “a lot of bad behavior at union gatherings, much of it influenced by alcohol.”
Most union meetings and after hours are civil, professional, and productive.
Most reps, volunteers, and attendees operate with integrity and discipline.
There are however a few outlier instances where people have made bad choices. These have heightened the need to have a policy, primarily to absolve the union of enabling such undisciplined participants of making these bad choices. Further, a few bad apples have shown that without boundaries, union dues earmarked for advancing the profession and safety have been outrageously spent on unbounded “hospitality”. If the reps and MEC work for us, it is probably wise to have a policy in place to guardrail this spending and behavior (since the leadership didn’t do this themselves). Exhibit BOD.
We are professional pilots. By and large the grownups that do union work act like adults. They don’t need an FDRA reaction. A non-overreactive resolution (I think) is the wiser decision. Set a formal policy not to use dues-for-booze, but still allow adults to return to acting like adults.