Then stop running your mouth on the internet and run for a union office.

 

No! when pigs fly or hell freezes over, I was not calling any of those guys swine. Just that they would not bid those FDA's until we all saw a PIG FLY/HELL frezees over. I am not name calling here.

 

I stand corrected. Just getting tired of the same people who were talking about loyalty to our negotiating commitee one year ago, now saying they should all be strung up.

 

That is very funny...

People are making a huge deal over this LOA. Honestly, I don't think it will pass. Many people have lost faith in the MEC and they would have a hard time selling us anything. I think the company will improve the offer or fly it SIBA. It would go down to the numbers. Deadhead tickets versus an improved incentive package (including the cost of a move). They may send newhires, who knows? And would it be that bad if they did?

Let's assume the LOA fails. If the company elects to open a base without the incentives and people bid these bases, they deserve what they get. I am not going to feel sorry for them. The only way to make this successful would be for everyone to hang tough and not bid the FDA. We all know this won't happen, but at least we could send some of these guys (probably the same ones that fly disputed pairings) half way around the planet. They couldn't afford nice places so they would get to hang out with the B/O challenged in Paris. That wouldn't be so bad, would it?

 

If the LOA DOES PASS, they won't have to worry about you not bidding it --- they will STV the base if they want to, right?

 

And there's a problem with that? It seems that you have major heartburn if someone is critical of the NC or MEC. I don't want to get into a p***ing contest with you but I'll tell you that I WAS loyal to the NC a year ago. I wrote letters to them about sections of the contract that needed to change and the reasons why. I wrote my block rep on all items from the MEC with my opinion as he is my representative. I was involved. HOWEVER, the contract came out and I was shocked at how poor it was. I discussed it for hours with my rep, told him I thought the NC let us down and ultimately voted against it. (and I'd be more than happy to give my reasons off this thread as it's not the topic). The MEC, in my opinion, has let us down with scope payments, age 60, and now this LOA ( along with the NC). I think they should all be recalled. Many of us on this forum are fed up with the excuse "if you don't like it why don't you run for office". Some of us came here to fly and not be a union official. But as line pilots, we expect our views to be represented by OUR union and if not they should hear about it whether they like it or not.

 

OK then prove to me there is some grand conspiracy. We vote these guys in. If you are not happy with them vote them out.

 

FR8,

I was a huge NC supporter. I don't think there is a grand conspiracy. I do think some of the senior MEC guys have gotten a tad insulated from the masses.

I am trying to encourage smart guys with the energy, time, and (generally) MEM domicile availablity to consider running. Blocks 2, 5, and 7 are up for graps this spring. I don't want block 7--I got a horse farm to run--but if nobody else I like steps up I'll run. I've already been arm-twisting Huck and Tony C and Gooch and others to step up.

Complaining that some decisions were made ina vacuum is not the same as saying the intentions were malicious. What I WILL say is the pattern of decisions on scope payouts, contract 06 gains, and the age 60 debacle all paint the IMPRESSION of a union concerned primary with the top 20%. I was one of the guys screaming for recall of DW. The fact is our ALPA bylaws protect those guys from the masses. So--change will have to come more slowly--but I think it will come.

I think TonyC has his head up his @ss on a few points. (Said with affection--Tony can back me up on that...) I also think he is a moral, thoughtful guy who will do his best to do what he thinks is right for all of us. I expect him to communicate to a level not seen by MEC reps in the past. I do think some of the other guys have confused loyalty to ALPA and to our cause with loyalty to an individual. I'd like to see Jack Anzur or someone else get the chance to lead us sooner rather than later--if only to placate the junior guys who feel disenfranchised.

The fact is nobody can get "voted out" without a tremendous hullaballo--the recall process is built that way for a reason. On the other hand--some blocks are coming open soon. There will eventually (likely) be a Hong Kong and CDG rep. I think change is coming.

Please don't take frustration with being disenfranchised as meaning we won't support the bigger picture. I bought a hat. I didn't fly extra. I cajoled and lectured my bros on various issues and spewed the party line a long time. However, earlier this year some decisions were made that certainly have the potential to hurt a lot of us. We listen. We vote. We network. New blood will step up. DW, Arco, the comm and SPC guys--they aren't evil. But they have been doing the same thing for a long time. I expect some new blood to flow into the mix in the next year. That doesn't diminish even one percent what those guys have accomplished so far--but sometimes to do the position justice the individual must step aside and let someone else have a turn at the helm.

I'll bet if somone would RESIGN, we could get some new talent in there in a week. Until they do that--those who want to serve must bide their time and be patient. Your admonishments to "do something then..." are sort of N/A until we have some elections.

All of this said with as much respect as I can convey....

 

FR8....you are an honorable guy.....you just seem to jump too quickly to the defense of the Union leadership and the NC. My concern is that both of these groups have no stake in any future FDA; therefore, they really didn't spend much time, energy or negotiating capital trying to maximize this LOA. It's crap...and anybody who's read it knows it. Do you defend this LOA as a viable product or are you just ****ed at guys taking shots at the Union leadership?

 

But I'll bet they had a nice little fact finding mission with the management Bubbas. Think they stayed at the Ghinzou La Quinta?