Originally Posted by
PicklePausePull
I have to disagree with you here, Albie15. When one is faced with negotiating against professional negotiators, especially attorneys, one needs to have attorneys negotiating for you. They are you third party warriors, just as the company has their own. Ever tried to argue you own case in court opposite an attorney? Pilots are just not trained, nor do they have the requisite time, to effectively negoitate. I think this has been one of our collective greatest mistakes all along.
Originally Posted by
USMCFDX
I would much rather my dues money pay for a professional negotiator than a non-fact finding boon-doggle to HKG and Paris.
I've argued for a professional negotiator for years and all I get back from the MEC/officers is that "well ALPA has lawyers (who've been doing this for years) working IN THE BACKGROUND for us and we really need a pilot sitting at the table". Also "no negotiator really knows our business so that's why we need a pilot at the table". YGTBSM!!!!! I say hire a PROFESSIONAL NEGOTIATOR. I don't care if he is a lawyer. I just went through problems closing on a house and I'm not a real estate agent/lawyer. (I'm a PILOT. That's MY profession. That's where my skill is.) As soon as I HIRED the real estate lawyer, everything got straightened out and the deal was done. Stop trying to blow smoke up my a$$ telling me how great ALPA is. The MEC needs to do it's due diligence and seriously look into this option and then COMMUNICATE the findings (both sides of the argument) to the crew-force and then abide by OUR decision!!!