Originally Posted by
shiznit
There is a loud minority (but a decently sized minority; 2000 of 12000 have sent cards in) who are.
The big concerns (from what I have seen) is lack of attention to scope, communication, and sending too much $$$ to National without getting it back and subsidizing smaller carriers.
The recent LEC elections can have an impact on scope(In upcoming Sec. 6), communication (there has been a HUGE improvement in that area, with more things coming soon).
IMHO, the gorilla in the room that the DPA'ers will still see is the cash to Herndon/subsidizing issue.
I do not speak for them, nor do I agree with all of their claims, but that is essentially what I have read/seen posted.
I personally recognize the tremendous strides made by the newly elected LEC members and the MEC Chairman to improve things wherever possible, I believe improvements can be made within the existing structure, but some truly do not believe it is possible, thus the movement.
I have to disagree with your assessment a little. Yes, there has been an increase in the volume of one-way communication coming from DALPA to the line pilots. However, proper communication must be "two-way" and be understood and seriously considered in order to be valid. While DALPA has paid a lot of lip service to wanting pilot input, I don't see anything actually changing. We are still plodding along on essentially the same path Lee Moak put us on... getting the same results Lee Moak got. Our W-2's are at a level of buying power almost identical to what we had while the company was in bankruptcy and supposedly in danger of liquidation. In other words... no improvement to pay. A massive percentage of our domestic flying continues to be flown by non-Delta pilots. DALPA seems to go out of its way to interpret any potential scope violation in the company's favor. And DALPA refuses to make any kind of case for restoration of our profession and our careers. The silence on that one is deafening!
These are the main reasons I have given up on ALPA and do not believe it can be "fixed from within." Just too much entrenchment and resistance to change. The only hope I see for us at this point is something like DPA. Anyway, just one line pilot's opinion... and unfortunately, we can't get enough line pilots to even pay enough attention to evaluate it one way or the other. Very frustrating and not encouraging at all. Apathy kills... and it (along with a union who's objectives are completely unclear) has severely damaged the Delta pilots careers.