Originally Posted by
John Pennekamp
Are YOU serious?
You know nothing of my friend except what I told you. He and I were elected ALPA reps together for 3 years. I saw him speaking up for the little guy and for unity. I saw him risking his job to fight for his fellow pilots.
You completely missed the point. You can't judge a man by the job he takes.
And I hate to break this to you all, but unions in this industry are becoming more and more irrelevant every day. We have transitioned to what almost every other industry has... employment at will and merit based promotion. Why do pilots think we're so special that we should have different rules apply to us? Why should we have guaranteed jobs and seniority based promotions? This is not the industry it was in 1977 anymore, and it's time we wake up and smell the coffee. Don't hate the pilots that realized that already, and now work at non-union carriers.
Very true. You said he was a hardcore trade unionist and that he fought for the little guy. Then he went to 2 non union airlines that under paid it's pilots. That isn't very Hardcore. Unless hardcore to you means "only when it fits into my plans".
I hate to break it to you but your friend is part of the reason for the union becoming more irrelevant these day.
Hypothetical question. On your merit based promotions (upgrades or transitions to larger airplanes) how do you determine who gets the upgrade or the larger airplane?