"...you can do like Bob Lavender, Bill Berman, Ron Coalson, Chuck Henry, and Bill Rathbun, and you can pick up your marbles and go home. How can you quit the union, and turn around and preach about unity?"

TonyC,

You wrote the above statement to me on another thread. To avoid the clutter there, I am writing to you here:

1. I would ask you to do as I have done and put your full name and qualifications on your postings so that I can better understand your experience. Right now, to me, you are just a shadowy character with no history or credibility. As Bill Berman said to a critic, "I've got a 35 year pin and I've got a battle pin, what have you got?"

2. There are four posters on my "ignore" list. You are not one of them because you do not resort to profanity. I kind of like having you write because it give readers an opportunity to compare your writings to mine. They can make the decision about the content and quality.

3. I provided you with the names of several of the most valiant pilots in the profession (I don't include myself in that description), all with tremendous experience and willingness to fight the real battles. Yet, you describe their decisions to resign from ALPA as "mind boggling." I would guess that they would describe you as conspicuously naive.

Mind you, these are the people that gave you the lifestyle and salary that you enjoy; not Dave Webb, not Wally Huggins, and not the FedEx MEC--these individuals are simply riding the wave created by the true warriors. As you know, it cost Chuck Henry about 500K in lost compensation to go on strike for two years, then start over several times before ending up at FedEx. That is far more "dues" than you will ever pay. Now, all he asks is for the ability to fly past 60 in order to support his family. It is time for reciprocity, not criticism. Who do you think is going to fight the next war for you if this is the treatment they get?

The answer is, of course, no one. That is why, in spite of all the union threats, no wars are being fought.

4. How can you quit the union, and turn around and preach about unity?

I suggest that you read the posts from other pilots, especially the new one titled, "United Pilots - Industry Laughing Stock?

Comment: I find it unconcienable that with furloughed pilots on the street, a UAL pilot wearing a union pin could waive the contract, pick up extra time (you call it jr/sr manning?)

Following comment: In THIS "Association", that is "ops normal"

ALPA membership has little or nothing to do with Unity. Many of the posts on this board, including some of your own, I think, relate to the fact that this is a highly divided profession and nothing is being done to fix it.

Two years ago, AFL-CIO membership was decimated when five of its largest unions "quit." They claimed that the AFL-CIO is dying because of its emphasis on politics rather than membership initiative. The group of "quitters" included the nation's largest and fastest-growing union, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), led by Andrew Stern. When asked by Leslie Stahl if it wouldn't be better to create change from the "inside," Stern replied, "I have tried to get it to change from the inside for ten years, and nothing has worked." Thus, there is now a new federation calld "Change to Win." I like that title.

Likewise, ALPA is entrenched in the past. It has an LEC system that is ineffecient and ineffective in dealing with modern problems, and it has officials that appear worried worried only about their own pocketbooks and positions. I believe that many pilots understand this and will strongly embrace an ethical approach to unionism where fairness across the board, junior to senior, becomes the rule. Like a breath of fresh air.

I am more patient than Andrew Stern. I have been watching our professional fiasco develop from the "inside" for 28 years. I have written about it and the solutions extensively, and and each attempt to publish has been thwarted by ALPA officials. I am not putting up with this juvenile behavior any longer. You may not have the hands-on experience to understand this yet, but I and others do. ALPA is the enemy of Unity and it is time for a big change.

Now, please identify yourself. It will make you accountable for the things you write. And, maybe we can make some progress.

Bob