Originally Posted by
NKSpilot
The fact that we are able to speak with a collective voice - on our company uniforms - is not something to take for granted. Those that came before us would risk their entire careers for less and it was worth it to them. It may just a piece of fabric but what's important is what it represents.
Correct, and it's not all that long ago either.
At one employer I was with the company issued their own lanyards. Shortly thereafter the company lanyards became mandatory. Soon thereafter the email went out that anybody wearing unapproved lanyards after a certain date would be terminated. On the date, after the base Chief Pilot "terminated" a pilot for the lanyard, about 200 of us lined up at the administrative offices to take our turn going in and being fired for wearing the ALPA lanyard. The CP did fire the first 3 or 4 until the secretary pointed out that the line went all the way back to the terminal building. The same was happening at every base system wide.
Shortly thereafter, every Chief Pilots office system wide, closed and locked their doors for the rest of the day. Everybody was unfired by late that evening. Policy then was company lanyard OR union lanyard.
A lot of people who've walked those same halls and jet bridges before you went through a lot to get the system to where it is today. Don't take it for granted.