Originally Posted by
Splash
Let's start with the easy part: Judging ALPA based on the government affairs decisions Prater made during his term is fair game, but institutionally insignificant. He didn't "jump up and down"? I get the hyperbole, and appreciate it. I can give you about two dozen other cases where I thought he screwed the pooch while in office. Please list all the infallible leaders of large organizations you know.
You want a DPA example? President Caplinger is in bed with the pro-management law firm that negotiated the original B-Scale at American...while they were representing the pilots!
Beyond our opinions of Prater's actions in that case, I think we both prefer no intervention over bad intervention. An ALPA-wide position on Delta & Virgin Blue would have required deliberation by the representatives of the entire Association. That is a good thing.
The issue here is Scope. Does ALPA have a conflict of interest in supporting the negotiations of MECs regarding Scope? You tell me. Does your contract have Scope restrictions on code-share, alliances, and flying divisions regarding other ALPA carriers...mainline and regional?
Yes.
Scene.
1st red highlight. Nice deflection. That isn't the issue now is it? I cited an example of alpa's conflict of interest.. not GE's or AAPL's.. don't gloss over it because it doesn't fit your argument... it exists... here. I cannot honestly argue whether the conflict of interest exists between Dalpa and the DCI carriers. I am not versed enough in the scope section to make an intelligent argument, so I won't try. Besides, I know that national doesn't have anything to do with that anyway. And in case you haven't noticed, my disdain is for all things national. They have the convenience of being able to throw up their hands and not get involved... but matters of governmental policy is PRECISELY where his highness
should be involved.. and he walked away... because of the conflict... I guess prater is scared of obama... Scene 2
Second red highlight.. I agree.. buuuuuuut... that is like asking if, given the choice, would I rather be shot or stabbed. No intervention is no intervention. I am not paying prater's bloated salary for no intervention. I find your assertion that it would take deliberations by the entire association very interesting... and totally appalling. Sorry bud.. but my interests extend to Delta Air Lines. I couldn't care less about UCAL or ATI, especially if it costs MY company... DAL... money. And this decision most certainly did. Sorry.. this is a serious failure of national.. (big surprise). It defines the term conflict of interest. If UCAL and ATI and the other alpa carriers are going to have a say in whether alpa national will represent OUR interests, then I seriously think we are flushing our dues money down the toilet... You have strengthened my feelings that alpa national is a total waste with that argument....
I don't know anything about Caplinger or any of the other DPA guys.. I really don't care, but I would like to see it come to a vote. I am sure that Bill Brown back in the day was all above board too... (Yeah.. I have been here awhile, and I bought his BS hook line and sinker... but no more.. I want proof of sincerity and that the leadership
deserves my support. prater, woerth and most of the predecessors were a farce. LM has a tough hill to climb IMO) So alpa needs to justify their stranglehold on us. They need to know that their monopoly can be taken away... (as if
). Bring it to a vote, and let's see how smug and confident they remain.