Originally Posted by
FlyZ
This is unbelievably frustrating for a new guy. Pretty much forced to join ALPA (you don't have to join but you still have to pay dues). But since then I have yet to see them stand up for us on anything. I have yet to see one piece of communication written strongly enough to reassure the membership that our best interests are in mind. I get a glossy publication every month (waste of dues money) full of pictures of bigwigs shaking hands. The only information contained therein is a list of things National is doing.
But if so much progress is being made, why haven't things gotten any better? During my admittedly short time here, it has felt a lot more like socialism than a representative democracy. "Delta pilots, ALPA will argue on your behalf when it's in the best interest of ALL ALPA pilots". Which I'm starting to think means never. Where do I get a DPA card?
No, really, where do I get one?
I get your frustration. I had it too coming to DAL and as a result got involved in a few committees. It allowed me to see both sides of the argument.
That said, unionism is a two way street, and you need to engage your reps on every issue. I do and am grateful for the dialogue. It provides perspective that line pilot generally do not have on many of the issues. Like it or not your reps have more facts, and many of them cannot be published in an e-mail or official publication.
On the publication front
The ALPA National Airline Magazine is from your National union and the local level has not say in that.
At the MEC level they publish the "Widget" every so often. That is our big publication. On top of that there are about 20 or so other forms of communication the MEC uses.
On the LEC level each LEC employs different mediums in which to communicate, and all of them vary in frequency depending on the LEC Council. These updates can be very in depth on all of the issues, provide strong criticism or support for a given issue etc. The way the Union is set up, this is where the majority of your communication on each issue should come from.
When something is decided or a piece of contract language is TAed the MEC provides that communication.
Furthermore, if you do not like what you see, blast em, tell them what they are doing wrong. Walking in the other direction does not solve the root of the issue. It took me being very engaged in each issue to get the level of understanding I wanted. Now, granted, I want more info than the guys I generally fly with. Because of that disparity, ALPA tries not to SPAM our group with multiple communications on the same issue.