Originally Posted by
CVG767A
I haven't read every page of this discussion, so maybe it's already been said, but we shouldn't be forming a new union while we're preparing to negotiate what may be one of the most important contracts during our careers.
We have a lot of pay and benefits to recover from bankruptcy. We're in a position to do that in 2012. I'd rather go into negotiations as a unified group with an experienced team at ALPA.
A new union now will dissipate much of the unity we now have. Also, a significant portion of a new union's energy will, by necessity, be devoted to building the structures and procedures we now have in place with ALPA. This is energy that won't be directed at improving our contract.
While I'm willing to explore the possibility of an independent union at some point in time, now is not that time.
This is my concern as well. Why are we rocking the boat right before our contract expires. The company is making money and I want to collect. How many years will it take to have a strong, independent union? I don't think we have enough time to prepare for contract negotiations, build our bank account, prepare for a potential strike, ect... I'm not against an independent union but I don't want a new, weak union representing me two years from now.
I worked for a non-union regional through 3 union drives. We lost the first Alpa drive by 8 votes. The next drive was for an independent union. The drive was going well until some moron decided to have his wife write some BS sob story about how a union would protect her family. I was a strong supporter of the drive but was disgusted when this came out. The drive fell apart after that. The organizers of this drive will have to come on here and help regulate the average line guy from pi$$ing off potential yes voters. Hey organizers....use PM's to politely keep guys in check and save a public post for a bigger spanking. I'm serious, one stupid post from a supportive line guy could trash a clean drive.
Someone asked about who would represent us if the drive succeeded. The drive organizers are not automatically our representatives. Pilots will have to run for office. Our current reps could run and some should run. There will definitely be a grab for power. I don't believe you can have elections take place until after Alpa is out and the DPA is in. There would be a time when no one is in charge of our house. The company cannot change anything to our contract. We will still have one. We just won't have anyone to grieve too. It would be great if DPA sets up some kind of transition committee to explore how we would and could be represented during that time. I don't know what the laws state so what I said earlier in this paragraph is just what happened while I was at my previous employer.