Originally Posted by
Whistlin' Dan
Dan Brannan can be a somewhat "enigmatic" character at times. What cannot be disputed is that as MEC Chairman, Brannan led the pilots of DHL Airways (later Astar) from a third-rate contract to one of the best in the industry, and did so without a strike or threat of slowdown. It was truly a "Quantum Leap" for the pilots.
Maybe that's why Astar management put him on their hit-list. He was one of the first "hostages" taken when the new contract was being negotiated. Although he was later reinstated with full back pay, I suspect the lack of support he received from his "ALPA brethren" factored heavily into his decision to leave the Association. In any case, his return to Astar came too late to have any effect on the contract which had been ratified several months before.
(Of that contract and how it was derived, the less said the better. It represented the first domino of the estimated 7-10,000 that are to follow. From "Quantum Leap" to "Quantum Turd" in one fell swoop. That's what leadership, vision, unity, and lack thereof will get you.)
The IBT is lucky to have Dan on board. I'm sure he'll serve their members well.
Careful with the arm Dan. Wouldn't want to put it out of joint patting yourself on the back.