Originally Posted by
say that again
While 70% of the membership may not have wanted to change the retirement age, I do believe it was a done deal with or without the blessing of ALPA. The change of heart by ALPA National and your MEC may have been the result of them realizing how much liability exposure their position created. I am 51 years old and personal viewpoints aside, by maintaining a position that supported age discrimination against their own members, ALPA National could have been a huge target of a very expensive lawsuit. Remember, prior to the age change it was legal for an
over 60 year old foreign pilot to fly in the USA carrying US citizens while pilots employed by US carriers were prevented from doing the same, hence the discrimination. Don't shoot the messenger or your MEC, their hands were tied on this one, regardless of what the membership wanted.
True it was going to happen one way or the other. Sometimes silence or a no vote regardless of the outcome is FAR better than saying "it's the right thing to do." Just as we're being polled on whether or not to endorse a candidate. I'm sure the results will be twisted so ALPA will do whatever they want - ie endorse a candidate.
There were serious issues with our FDA-LOA that the union didn't address or simply told us "its the best you'll get - take it or take it." The company has sweetened the deal since then - no thanks to the union - give credit to guys not bidding it.
There have been situations where contract enforcement has done little or nothing. Look at our accepted fares (something that doesn't affect me at all as I don't commute). Guys are getting hosed on DH tickets and the union refuses to do anything about it. There have been issues with passover pay where the union didn't look after junior members.
This isn't just a one issue deal. It's been several issues along. One captain led a recall vote for his LEC member. The vote was announced at last minute (the morning of the meeting) giving no time for people to show up. Naturally there were several that never normally attend meeting that "happened" to be at that meeting. Recall effort was voted down.
I'm not ready to say that we kick ALPA off the property - but apparently money is the only thing ALPA listens to - our vote doesn't matter.