Originally Posted by
BlueMoon
Because guys like Mr. Ford have sued them. There are still plenty of guys who have made a career at the regional level that would do so again.
I agree, scope should be number 1. I am on my second regional and wish they would take scope back. It would be much better for all.
Ok, so ...
- ALPA endorses managements' outsourcing schemes with the idea that they will share in the profits and redirect that money to preferred members
- The Delta MEC & its pilots agree to outsources 50% of their flying (roughly, measured by block hours) under the theory that "regional" flying is not "mainline" flying in status, or pay. (United, NWA, & LCC do the exact same thing, btw)
- ALPA and Management become partners in outsourcing in the hopes of increasing profits
- Scope is rewritten to focus on financial transactions with management instead of its traditional role as job protection for union members
- The partners (ALPA&Management) desire competition among airlines to drive down the costs of service so that outsourcing is more profitable
- Regional Airlines like Comair see that the flying they perform is going to be diluted into many alter ego competitors
- Comair and ASA want and NEED scope to protect "their" work from being outsouced
- ALPA National blocks scope at the regional level at the behest of the mainline MEC's to avoid reducing the profitability of outsourcing
- Result - Mainline carriers go bankrupt, voiding the benefits of the outsourcing, mainline pilots get furloughed and stagnate as their domestic narrow body flying is transferred out from under them. Non union carriers and non ALPA airlines are the big beneficiaries, scoring up to 900% growth over an 8 year period.
Question 1: Who was wrong? Dan Ford, or those in ALPA that endorsed outsourcing?
Question 2: Who is responsible for the Delta pilots? Dan Ford, or the union that represents Delta pilots?
Question 3: Can you describe in less than 9,000 words how harmful outsourcing is to a labor union? For additional reference google Eastern Airlines, or Northwest Mechanics.
* Help for question 2 ... who do you pay your dues to for representation?
* Comment on Question 2 ... it is completely understandable why Dan Ford tried to protect his job when his union refused to do so. We could use a little of that around here, IMHO. It is dumb for us to be distracted (and blame) someone who was not responsible to us.
The only way to fix things is to understand who's in charge (our Reps) and by encouraging them to do the right things!
Flame suit zipped up ... fire away!