Originally Posted by
scambo1
When Moak was MEC, and this topic came up on the DALPA forum, it was always squashed by the Comm chair. The short answer is that ALPA legal said it wasnt a violation of section 1. If you can read english, it was clearly in violation. The single carrier ruling re-opens the issue because if they are a single carrier, ALPA cannot look the other way (or say these arent the droids you are looking for).
Its one of those situations that actually makes me angry because I know I am being misled by an organization I pay to represent me. What do they think we are? Stupid? I think ALPA counts on pilot non-engagement for their existence. They also love to say to the "forum radicals" why dont you volunteer if you want change. Well many have, but they arent wanted.
Is it possible, just possible, that your legal training is somehow less stringent than the lawyers who advise ALPA? Our general counsel is considered the nation's leading expert on the RLA and is quoted by judges in their rulings. Could it be possible that you may have made a mistake in your interpretation of the language? So you claim you are misled, when in fact there is an overwhelming chance that you are just wrong, because you are not a lawyer. Seriously, what do you think when there is some delay on your flight and some lawyer comes up to the cockpit and starts bloviating about the airlines. Probably, "What a tool" is the first thing that comes to mind.
Look Carl, is just a blowhard who makes things up. ALPA has filed several grievances over Scope and will continue, WHENEVER IT IS ACTUALLY VIOLATED, not when some pilot who thinks he's a lawyer thinks it has been violated. I have no idea what the implications are of this ruling by the NMB, because I am a stupid pilot and not a lawyer, certainly not one of the most experienced, most respected labor attorneys in the country. If this changes the circumstances of our scope clause then a cease and desist letter will be sent to management and if they don't comply, a grievance will be filed.
Volunteers are always wanted, it you want to volunteer, then give me a PM and I will help you get started. Virtually every pilot who works in ALPA started out because their hair was on fire and they wanted to change the world. It's actually much tougher to change the world than it looks on the outside.