Originally Posted by
LavChange
ALPA is one of the root problems in this industry. Yeah, they're are good for safety issues in my opinion, but for negotiating pay? No way. Why is there a payscale in the first place? Why does a junior FO make $16,000 a year and a senior captain at the same company make $160,000? At least that's true at my company. Instead why doesn't ALPA negotiate salary. Why can't FOs make $50,000/year and Captains make $100,000, with the exception maybe of a probationary first year. I'm just throwing out numbers...the point I'm trying to make is that a salary system is better than a payscale. Think about it, everyone would come out ahead if you do the math because it takes you less time to achieve a higher salary. And, if you get laid off, instead of going to another $16,000/year job, you get a $50,000/year job at another airline because its salaried too. If an accountant gets laid off do they go back to making poverty level wages just because they have to change companys? No, they go to another company and probably make more because of prior work experience. So why is it the opposite with an airline pilot? Thanks ALPA.
One of the better options I have heard. I can't see a national seniority list happening but this would solve many of the problems inherent with the decision to fly for a different carrier.
For those of you who are fed up with your representation, do some research and find other options. I know there are some small unions out there that would be willing to take up new clients and fight hard to make a mark. As someone said earlier, ALPA, Teamsters etc. are more concerned with collecting dues than putting up a fight. This is what the pilot group/unions need to do right now. No matter how intense the media coverage is or how concerned the public is, no airline is just going to pony up better pay and or work rules without a fight or concessions from the pilot group. Find someone who will.
We felt like the Teamsters were giving us poor representation here at Lakes so we went through the process to replace them. Will that change anything? Time will tell, but at the very least International is now aware of the fiasco going on in the 747. And I must say that I am more confident that changes that need to be made here will come with Sowell and his cronies out of the picture.
As the compensation in this industry continues to decline we need to ask ourselves if our current representation is equipped to get it back or if someone else may be able to do it better.
Or maybe we're all screwed no matter what.