I'm not sure if I agree with your apples and coal statement. It is essentially a very similar situation. Granted not completely the same, but there are enough similarities to make the comparison valid.

The fact remains, once the arbitrator rules this was a violation of the AE pilot contract, (which they have no choice but to do based upon the prior rulings), then what does that make the TSA pilots? Are you saying your MEC is not capable of dealing with more than one issue at a time? That is a cop out. Your MEC should have issued a blanket statement following the announcement of the Miami flying that this was in violation of an ALPA contract, and that members should not fly the routes. In other words, they should have struck the Miami flying. We're prohibited from striking due to a very bad contract agreement... we gave them that, along with a few other things to get a single pilot list from the four airlines that were operating as American Eagle. Now, here we are years later, and they are trying to give away flying to an outside carrier... essentially recreating a multiple pilot group situation all over again.

ALPA needs to start running like a national union. Allowing each individual MEC (union local) to lower the bar is not acceptable. There needs to be a "basic" pilot contract created, and each MEC should be prohibited from accepting anything less than the ALPA basic contract. Each MEC would remain free to negotiate special perks with their own managements, and tailored to their own airline. ALPA national needs to take a stronger leadership position, and put some backing and support behind the words "we're taking it back."

If we need to have a systemwide meeting of all the MEC's, or create a committee comprised of members from each pilot group, to construct the "basic" ALPA pilot contract, then that is what we should start doing, and the time is now. Each member of the committee would bring their contract to the meetings, and as a group, select the best sections from the various contracts, to create the new "basic" ALPA pilot contract.

The "basic" ALPA pilot contract should be constructed to cover everything from Beech 1900's to A380's. A new idea, which I have not seen at ALPA, but have seen at other pilot union contract or side letters, is to include a fine system for when management violates the contract. Additionally, a section prohibiting members from knowingly violating another local's contract should be included, with a stipulation that if pilots refuse to fly, after being notified by an MEC of the violation the companies may not take punative actions against them...

just some thoughts and rants....

other ideas anybody?