Originally Posted by
weekendflyer
Endeavor LOA is out and requires Joe DePete signature. By signing this LOA, DePete is going against 13,000 plus Delta pilots...if he signs it, I’m requesting a DPA card.
This is going to seem harsh. I understand and fought the battle you are fighting for 20 years. Let me save you some lessons from a Doctorate in hard knocks.
You do realize DPA would have no seat at the table in negotiations involving Endeavor and Delta, right? ... ALPA would still be at the table on behalf of the Endeavor pilots.
The answer to your concern is not to weaken your own bargaining agent.
The Delta MEC (the Delta pilots) stated (if my understanding is correct) they have no objection to Endeavor signing a flow-through agreement. If you want to raise that objection it is up to YOU to raise YOUR CONCERN to your Reps and convince them that your concern is a problem for a majority of Delta pilots. That is YOUR job as a member and a director of your association, ALPA. If you lack the willingness, the effort, or the argument, that is your issue, not ALPA's.
An argument could be made that Endeavor's bargaining weakens 1 D. 11. of the Delta PWA. If you can convince anyone to care about pilots who are off the seniority list and who have no standing to file a grievance, then, you could make a case to the Delta MEC to request an Executive Board be convened to consider the President's authorization of Endeavor bargaining. I did this back when the initial SSP was written and it went exactly nowhere.
The DPA provides less power and control than you (we) currently have. Having your bargaining agent, ALPA, give up its seat at the table would literally result in you having no voice whatsoever in the Endeavor negotiations. Threatening ALPA with the DPA does not leverage your strength, it makes you a joke.
Your strength, if you choose to use it, is to lobby the MEC for action.
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Point 2: The Bartels administration and the MEC completely failed at ALPA's Board of Director's meetings and lost valuable leadership positions. If you want more power and influence at national, then support moderate administrators who focus on product instead of politics. The Kolbus crowd mistakes popularity on Chit Chat for strategy. They could not be more mistaken. There is a disciplined science to winning elections and gaining power.