Originally Posted by Elmer Fudd

DAL 88 Driver is correct.

The SLI has absolutely NOTHING to do with the emergence of DPA. Having DALPA suggest this is a lame attempt at trying to redirect blame. The true reason is that DALPA hasn't done its job & the membership is unsatisfied.

What the Buzzard fails to tell you is that:

--the membership hears literally NOTHING from the MEC. After the Republic deal, we only got a bullet point outline about possible SCOPE issues. Explanations of possible impacts of the Mesaba & Compass sales were vague & lame, & said little.

--Almost nothing is said WRT MEC special / regular meetings, what was discussed, voted on, or any outcomes.

--Numerous questions WRT LOA between the MEC & Mgmt. Again, nothing is really told to the line pilot. We rarely see an LEC communication.

--The impression that the MEC is too cozy with Mgmt.

--The fact that DAL pilots pay about $23,000,000.00 in annual ALPA dues, & only recoup $9,000,000.00 of it. That's a heck of return on our investment. The other dues serve competing airlines' interests & keep the ALPA NATL gravy train funded.

--Question about conflicts of interest with ALPA representing different pilot groups that are after the same jobs.

--The impression that ALPA NATL has lost touch with the line pilots they represent. Huge salaries, perks & bennies that have blossomed out of control. The DAL pilots dues are being used to finance this.

--NATL ALPA office workers that earn more than line pilots.

--A huge ALPA BOD meeting at a luxury hotel with open bars & excessive expenses. Again, NATL wasting the hard earned dues of its members. And what about any updates from the meeting? NOTHING has been communicated. (Why isn't a regular layover hotel sufficient? Probably because we don't stay in five star hotels.)

--Any requests for DALPA expense reports or FPL figures are DENIED.

--A comm guy that insults our intelligence by stating "bigger is better', "ALPA gives the line pilot value", & that we should just shut our pie holes & get with the program. Don't rock the ALPA boat.

Pilots became interested in the DPA because they realized that ALPA could really give a rat's a$$ about their interests. It's a top down organization that closely holds onto its power with little regard to the membership. It wants to keep the status quo intact & has no desire to change. Pilots are sick of SSDD.