Originally Posted by
Carl Spackler
I think the evidence is clear that Moak thinks any attempt to regain outsourced flying by the majors is a change in the status quo, and as such, will be fought by national.
But the main point is that Moak believes ALPA national has the right and the obligation to determine what a local's contract should be as it relates to the rest of the industry's "greater good." This is the most revealing and troubling part. He unwittingly lays out the truth for everyone to see. The truth is that local leadership does not negotiate their own contracts. ALPA national provides all the money and the vast majority of the resources. Lee just said that ALPA national's highest priority in collective bargaining is to use those resources at national to ENSURE that local contracts benefit the "greater good."
Carl
Carl, Ending alter ego is consistent with benefiting the "greater good." But, let us not get political speech writing confused with reality. For an example you need not look any further than the fact our largest and most capable permitted jets are being operated at ALPA busting Tran States' Compass division. Those were pilots represented by our MEC at the date of corporate closure. Those were
our jobs. Those should be our jets and our pilots. Compass pilots should have a Delta seniority number. That is the reality. Now the politics ... .
There are plenty of ways ALPA could use its' President's Office for the mutual gain and benefit of ALL ALPA MEMBERS:
1. Require outsourced flying be performed by ALPA members:
A. Makes our union more relevant
- Airlines like SkyWest & Republic have grown and received flying by virtue of simply being non ALPA. ALPA will never win an organizing drive on these properties as long as the pilots there perceive a real benefit to being non-ALPA in the form of rapid growth and seniority.
- In contrast, ALPA airlines with leading contracts have been destroyed, ie Comair.
- If threatened with the loss of flying (non renewal of contracts with non ALPA airlines) airlines like SkyWest would fall in line instantly. They would see the value in ALPA membership (if you have 'em by the short hairs, their hearts and minds will follow) More effective than Pizza Parties at growing our union.
B. Makes our union more relevant (part II)
- By controlling and coordinating bargaining at the National level, efforts could be made to end whipsaw of regional against regional and currently regional against mainline.
- Management has ONE Bargaining Agent for labor - ALPA has a monopoly on pilot labor
C. Set minimums on labor (both in areas of qualifications and pay) for outsourced flying.
2. Teach ALPA membership the benefits of real unity & return to our core strengths:
- Make ending outsourcing a long term strategic goal of our union.
- Return the Constitution and Bylaws to their pre 1990's versions of "alter ego" and "operational integration."
- Pursue mergers within airline brands as a way of ending alter ego replacement of labor while improving ALPA members careers. (non ALPA members are not our concern)
- Use ALPA National's resources to investigate and develop new ways to bridge labor across operating certificates and corporate ownership. For instance, as long as the jet flies with Delta code, it is flown by Delta pilot in good standing with ALPA.
If we build a strong enough foundation in unity, there is no limit to what we could build on top of it.