Originally Posted by
PCL_128
ALPA doesn't pay for the services, ALPA is the services. They aren't contracted out to outside providers, they come from within. ALPA's head professional negotiator has been negotiating pilot contracts since 1979. Good luck getting someone like that on the open market. These kinds of resources just aren't available outside of ALPA. There are some things that you can get, usually for far greater cost, since there is no economy of scale, but many things that ALPA provides are only available within ALPA.
You mean like APA apparently just did? Since they did not obtain those services from their own union wouldn't that be the definition of buying it on the open market? I have no problem with providing APA with those services providing we charged them a hell of a lot of money for that service... as a matter of fact, that should be resulting in some minute dues reduction... I know.. different subject for a different thread. I think that basically what you (or anybody in the know) is afraid to come out and say is that this was a free service to APA.. knowing the firestorm that would result. But for the end of your statement.. what kind of services are available only to subscription members?
Originally Posted by
PCL_128
Experienced reps know that a "union" like the DPA would be an enormous disaster just waiting to fall flat on its face, and they would be unlikely to take part in it. You'd be left with the third and fourth string volunteers with little or no experience. But that's not what really matters. What really matters is the institutional knowledge from the ALPA staff that you would lose forever, regardless of whether the pilot volunteers stay. Have you been up to the 8th floor to see DALPA HQ? It's an impressive sight. There are dozens of staff members working constantly to represent your interests. From attorneys to benefits specialists to scheduling experts, you have an incredible amount of experienced staff. That doesn't come with you if you leave ALPA. And it's really irreplaceable.
Really? So you are confirming exactly what I surmised.. that they are in it for their egos. You have drastically changed my opinion of the "volunteers". I'm guessing that Curtis Tarpley and others like him would stay on because they are double dipping from mama Delta, so why would they leave.. and after all.. THEY are the real knowledge base there.
And yes I have been to the 8th floor at HQ. It is impressive. I wish my house had that much hardwood. And NOTHING is irreplaceable. By thinking that so, you have a one dimensional offense. You need to either throw or run with the ball to keep your opponent of balance.
Originally Posted by
PCL_128
It's not really a "profit," since a union is a non-profit organization, but it does bring in more revenue than the expenses that it generates.
Prove it. I have the right to know this.
Originally Posted by
PCL_128
Yes, I've seen that it's been brought up, but just because you've dismissed it doesn't mean that it's not important.
To the contrary, I don't think this vote will ever occur. You'll never get close to the cards required to file for an election. Your peers are far too smart to buy the snake oil from the salesman, even if you aren't.
Because these silly independent union campaigns are a needless distraction that serve only to divide pilots rather than to unify them.
I honestly don't think this vote will ever occur either, but I do find it interesting the hard core defenders of the status quo seem nervous about the potential. It is a good thing, because maybe it makes you realize that you ARE replaceable. Maybe you will actually start looking at the house and throwing out the garbage. Quit wasting MY money. You call it silly. Interesting. I think it scares the hell out of you, because you know this one has a lot more traction than the PPA did... Talk to your FOs.. I have.. and there are a lot that are either sending in cards.. or thinking about it. It IS a referendum on ALPA.. whether or not it comes to a vote. Clean up your mess.
Originally Posted by
PCL_128
The new ALPA President, one of your own pilots, got elected because of the support of mainline pilots, not just RJ pilots. The same was true of Captain Prater. Mainline carriers still control a majority of the votes within ALPA, and probably always will. The idea that ALPA has become an "RJ union" is absurd to anyone who has seen the internal politics of a BOD meeting.
And we all know what an unmitigated success Prater and the moustache before him was.....
Originally Posted by
PCL_128
ALPA doesn't publish the services agreements that it signs with other unions.
Why not? We have a right to know. After all, it's MY union as you keep saying.
Originally Posted by
PCL_128
However, many such agreements exist. Before we were ALPA, our independent union at AirTran, the NPA, had to contract for many services with ALPA that we were unable to provide for ourselves. APA, a union with an incredible dues revenue stream, still needs ALPA for support services in negotiations. All independent pilot unions have services agreements with ALPA from time to time. They sometimes try to get away from it, because some radical new anti-ALPA leaders get elected, but then they realize that they can't do it alone, and they come back for help. Eventually, they realize that they are better off joining ALPA. The NPA and FPA are perfect examples of this.
Good... like I have been saying, I hope they are paying dearly for them... otherwise, you have no real argument for keeping the bloated bureaucracy on property.
I hear Billy Preston singing again