Originally Posted by
Superdad
One of the main purposes of ALPA is pattern bargaining, yet they almost never engage in this practice. The recent Spirit Airlines contract is a perfect example of this. Sure the Spirit pilots wanted to keep their work rules and take lower pay. The result is some decent work rules and crappy payrates. How does that help pilots at other carriers, who fly similar aircraft on similar routes, bring their rates up?
My point is that ALPA will sign whatever $hitty contract your pilots agree to regardless of the effect on other properties. That is not pattern bargaining. Taking it one step further, ALPA will attempt to strong arm your negotiators and MEC in to a bad TA, and then try to get you to sell it to your pilots! I have seen it first hand as a negotiator and MEC rep.
That is absolutely correct. I've seen it as well.
This is why the statement that "scope give-aways have always been via MEMRAT" is so misleading. When all your leadership tells you doom and gloom if you don't vote yes, it's not a surprise that these votes go the way they do. The reps get this "leadership" from ALPA national.
Carl