Originally Posted by
Led Zep
ALPA cannot even protect its members from concessions on their current contracts, so I doubt they (or anyone else for that matter) can "force" and airline to do anything.
Fuel is market driven - there is greater need than there is supply. The opposite is true of the pilot pipeline.
There may be no shortage of people trying to get you Mad Dog seat, but the shortage of pilots in general is a very real issue. It has been written on by just about every aviation magazine, and touched on bu USA TOday and the WSJ. Regionals have dipped to hiring people with the ink still wet on their multi-commercials, so your version of supply & demand is incorrect.
Originally Posted by
Led Zep
The guild only works in Hollywood because of the nature of the business with regards to the film industry. In aviation, you compete for a job, you are represented by a union, and you plan on and hope that your current job will carry you to retirement. If it doesn't, you must start out at the bottom at another carrier. That is the way this industry (read: industry, and not unionization) works. Unpleasant for some, but a reality nonetheless.
Disagree. Do a little research on civil service jobs, and recall rights after layoffs.
Originally Posted by
Led Zep
First, any contract between an union and a carrier MUST be agreed upon by the two parties involved. There is no way that any union is going to be successful in telling an airline how to run the HR department.
When every union is telling them the same thing, and refusing to sign for less, lets it go to arbitration, lets it stall, complies with the RLA, and eventually can WALK.... watch how fast they all change their tune.
It's been done before in different industry with worse restrictions than ours uner the RLA.
Originally Posted by
Led Zep
Second, if no agreement is reached and a strike is authorized, don't count on much success their either. The government will most likely not allow it to happen. Also, if one were to happen, most airlines would probably opt to file for bankruptcy, shut down, and then start up and start over - this time as a non-union carrier. And don't think there is a shortage of people willing to take a job there either.
True, to a certain point... but if it is EVERY ALPA carrier at the same time, then they will have to become involved in the resolution. Wrong, about people to take the job. As I said, no shortage of people in line for yours, but the regionals are having a hard time getting qualified people.
Originally Posted by
Led Zep
Third, airlines with independent pilot unions will not have anything to do with the "guild". The airline certainly will not want to deal with them, and neither will the independent union representing their pilots.
Fine, they can be left behind when everybody else moves ahead. They will be welcome to join ALPA if they chose.
Originally Posted by
Led Zep
This is a very poor example to use a comparison too. The majority of fire protection districts in the United States is volunteer. With the exception of major cities, most cities consist of either a combination of paid and volunteer, or they are 100% volunteer. Also, many FD's used to provide EMS service as well. The majority of that is now subcontracted to private companies who provide that service.
WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. Maybe in rural suburbia the majority of fire services are volunteers. Go to any metropolitan area and they are full time civil service positions.... especially on the coasts. The majority of them have recall rights. In the event thay are laid off, the first department hiring in their state has to offer the job to the layoff list first.
Happens more with the cops here in New England, since noboady likes to lay off firefighters.
Originally Posted by
Led Zep
Doesn't ALPA currently want to take union dues out of it's member's 401k? I thought I saw this on another APC thread.
Realistically, it cannot be done.
Yes, and not what I was talking about. My point was that when recalled, your new employer does their matching contribution based on your years of ALPA seniority, not as a new hire with no company match.
Realistically.... you are wrong. Practically, you are correct; under our current structure and leadership (or lack thereof)