Heyas ACL,

The problem is the way everyone is going about it.


ACL, you've outlined some pretty good reasons to keep ALPA on the property. Fairly rational, and resonably fact based (or at least as well as we have access to the facts).

There are some on one side, who maybe have a bit of good natured bravado, or maybe too much testosterone (or estrogen, for that matter, equal opportunity and all), see this as some kind of wargame, and are hyped up on the "mission" to defeat the newcomer. They see the current leadership as "their squadron", and will go to typical man-lengths to defend their bros... Understandable, but misplaced in this envrionment.

The "game" is NOT what this is about, and anyone who sees that going on is doing themselves and the pilot group a huge disservice.

If ALPA is the best choice for the pilot group, and all the facts are as you say they are, then it should be a clear choice. Rather than play the enevitable smear campaign, which will no doubt consume the time of several full time staffers, dozens more on FPL, and will probably cost hundereds of thousands, if not millions dollars, why not just lay out the facts?

Put the facts side by side and say "we feel that our record, resources and our ability speaks for itself, and this is what we're offering", and let the pilot group use its brain (yes, Virginia, we do have them) to decide for itself who can best advance the best interests of the DAL pilot group, without all the angst, hoopla, teeth gnashing and hurt feelings.

Personally, I think THAT is the kind of thing that the pilots would best respond to, and not the enevitable mud wrestling that is sure to ensue.

But this ISN'T just about who is representing the pilots. It's about a business that receives tens of millions of dollars in revenue. And money makes you do things, and shades everything that you do.

If the "machine" gets cranked up, the pilots will most certainly see it for what it is as more of the same, and I feel that will be a disservice to everyone.

I'm not a DPA supporter, and believe things can be fixed. We're a couple of LEC elections away of getting good things done. BUT, if someone decides to go all hammertime on fellow DAL pilots, then the end result will not be desirable.

Nu

"The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers"