Originally Posted by
LeineLodge
I went to the Council 44 meeting today and heard TO speak. I will say that I left convinced that he is aware of the scope threats to our profession. It was emphasized that a large threat (and he's right) are the gov't subsidized, soon-to-be MEGA middle-eastern carriers.
Here's the disconnect with TO and his LEC partners. Scope is the only threat they/we can control. Cabotage, foreign ownership, gov't subsidized foreign carrier, open skies, etc is ALL controlled by governments. I know ALPA is in love with the concept of having a seat at the table, but that seat buys nothing. Again Scope is all we control.
Originally Posted by
LeineLodge
He did not infer or even approach re-capturing RJ scope. The presentation was more of a "let's look at the biggest threat going forward" [quotes mine] vs. spinning our wheels working for something we already have: a limit on large RJ's that is almost met, albeit frustrating and far too generous.
This is so maddening. Didn't even infer recapturing Scope. Instead he wants to focus on bigger threats over which we have absolutely no control.
Originally Posted by
LeineLodge
I'm rambling, but my point is I don't want to be so focused on the left hand (RJ's) that the right hand (JV's, Codeshares, Cabotage, younameit) slaps us without even seeing it coming. Unless we relax RJ scope, at least it is where it is for now. If we can tighten it up, or recapture, so much the better.
That would be a logical strategy if we could actually control any of these other threats. We do not. We should do all we can regarding these other threats, but let's
actually focus on a threat we can
actually control.
Originally Posted by
LeineLodge
This is not to say we shouldn't work towards insourcing OUR flying by convincing mgmt to stop signing/renewing these DCI contracts and let them eventually expire,
ABSO-FREAKIN-LUTELY!
Originally Posted by
LeineLodge
but we shouldn't let the RJ issue cloud our awareness of some of these other very big, very real threats to our job protections.
No...we shouldn't let the allure of thinking we can actually control any of these other threats with our "seat at the table" cloud the issue of controlling what we can actually control. Which is...Scope.
Carl