Originally Posted by
alfaromeo
This is all a matter of opinion and I will give you mine. Technically, you can say that a rep only represents the pilots that elect him, i.e. his base. If you want you can even say that the ATL Captain reps only represent the ATL Captains. However, my opinion is that the MEC works best when each rep considers the interests of every pilot in every decision they make....
So my opinion is that regardless of the base or seat you were elected from, every rep needs to consider the interests from number 1 to number 12,000+ in every decision they make. When that breaks down, the MEC breaks down.
Agreed & well stated. That unity helps our effectiveness.
The tough nut to crack is an issue like Compass was, where a guy earnestly believes based on objective facts, that we risk making an incorrect decision which harms our pilot group out of inertia and the fact most pilots see the issue as so far below them as to not bothering to learn the facts. Here a Rep taking a stand could make a difference and if only one Rep would have voted in accordance with the wishes of their MEC then it WOULD have made a difference.*
Instead, our MEC called for and got a vote which revealed a split right along pre-merger lines. Arguably it would have been statistically better for unity for a few f-DAL Reps to cross the line and vote with their pilots.
* Based on the resolutions passed in every Counsil except NYC.