Agency shop cost the company nothing but (would) cost us a bundle, mainly in hard feelings and recriminations against the tight wads that refuse to pay their fair share. The LOA was/is a POS but buying back some of its less desirable features with a even less desirable one is not the answer.

And what has that money bought you?

Look--this is not a make/break issue with me. I concede its got a lot of drawbacks either way. But on an emotional level, the cheapskates who opted out of the FPA/ALPA never got under my skin as much as a block rep telling the membership he was "doing what was best for you...". I'll take a cheap ba$tard over indifferent elected officials any day. The question is which galls you more? We all got opinions--that one is mine. But its not a platform issue--its me shooting off at the mouth (known to happen regularly.....).

We have a pretty good system for ensuring all blocks are represented with the LEC system, but it sure seems like at times we are being told to "shut up and color". That leaves you with the choice of taking it, or taking it. Letting a guy quit for 3 months, b1tch up a storm, then realize he needed to still be on the team and pay his back dues IMHO is healthier than the current grit your teeth and do nothing and like it system. But like I said--I'm not jamming that idea down anyone eles's throat. Its just how I feel about the issue. If I'd been at the company 20 years watching cheapskates surf for free--maybe I'd feel like THAT was the lesser of the two evils. Either way--it sucks.

Know what else bugs me? At the union meeting, there were only about 50 votes cast for nominations for block 7 rep, and about 25 for block 5. I get people coming up and patting me on the @ss and saying "thanks for running--thanks for stepping up..." That felt nice. Watching Cory Franklin get 35 vote and me about 15 (which still got me on the ballot) was discouraging. For all the "go get 'em" noise and hullaballo we see here on APC, not much happened. I'm running--I'm in--and if I get globbered I'll certainly support Cory and do all I can to help him. However--I gotta wonder where he got that support a week out, and I got squat. Either I'm not a charming as I think I am :eek: or we still have a lot of very apathetic voters.

My point to all of this is simple. If ANYONE wants change--they have to get involved. If I am elected I'll do all I can to make it as easy as possible for folks to get involved via teleconferences and web based events, but until then we have to deal with what is here. And that means mailing in stuff, going to meetings, and staying informed. If you are satisfied with the status quo and the current MEC's directions, then just sit still. You won't have any changes. If you ARE NOT satisfied--then whether you support Cory or Me, Vic, Mike or Mark...you need to get involved and vote.

Hear, Hear.

The MEC controls access to information and makes the rules so recalls are all but impossible. The proxy system would be a joke if it wasn't so sad.

We only have the word of the guys who brought us: it will go senior and STV was only intended for 30 days; that the agency shop didn't cost nothing.

Fight the good fight.

True, it didn't cost the company anything, but the MEC and NC insisted that it didn't cost us anything.

I disagree with that whole heartedly. I am more discouraged that although we got Agency Shop, we grandfathered all the non members, so they don't have to pay the maintenance fee. Evidently the union is concerned that they would be changing the conditions of employment for those who weren't members.

Ok, but you also changed it for everybody else, because now if I want to be a non member, I still have to pay the maintenance fee. When I was hired, if I didn't want to be in the union, I didn't have to pay any maintenance fee. So the MEC protected the 300 or so non members but left 4200 or so of us out to dry.

We were much stronger with 97% voluntary membership than we are with 100% forced membership (not withstanding the 3% who are still non members but were let off the hook for ever).

A big tactical mistake by the NC in my opinion.

I would gladly give back Agency Shop to get rid of STV.

I appreciate all that have, or would choose to work for our union. I agree, our collective energy/will/interest is sorely lacking. I don't think its a problem new to this organisation, its a function of our work environment. We have 4000+ pilots spread over 50 states and several countries, its not like a union town where everyone lived and works in the same factory or mine. Communication is tedious, expensive and frustrating, let alone getting pilots to agree to a common goal of how to deal with our employer. Add to this a hostile federal government (toward labor), state and local government that falls over its selves to curry favor with FedEx, and you see just being unionized at FedEx is a feat. Could our elected leadership have done better, could we as a pilot group done more to support and encourage those who choose to serve with better attendance and union meetings?? Well I attended one of the early road shows for our (than) TA and even with (what I assume) was considered a great turn out, I would guess less than half the pilots that live in Memphis and home at the time, even bothered to show and support/educate themselves at a major union rally. As far as the out of towners, well, some of us came, but lets be realistic about what people are going to do when it means a full day JSing to attend a couple hour meeting or rally.
I feel the frustration you do about attendance at union meetings. I also wish we could all debate the issues in a manner that increased exponentially the attention our crew force would give to bread a butter issues that affect us all. Our system form works against us, we know it, the company knows it, and everyone who volunteers his time for the MEC knows it.
Thanks for stepping up and don't let that the fact of poor attendance at union meetings stifle your attempt to improve things here. Your efforts are appreciated, even if its not always visible.

Agency shop does not require anyone to belong to a union, only pay a maintenance fee to help support the organization providing the services the union provides for all pilots. Not withstanding the grandfathered dead beats, your decision to be a member on this or any other union (in TN at least) is still yours, but you just can't be a freeloader with a agency shop

That is true. I understand the concept of Agency Shop. Doesn't change the fact that if I choose to be a non member now, the terms are different than when I was hired. Back then, I didn't have to pay the maintenance fee.

Where we disagree is that you seem to think its a good thing. I don't.

Thats ok.

Sorry but if you are a Unionist, it is a Good thing. Notice the trend in Flight managment now? The majority of them are now dues paying MEMBERS.

10 years ago, you could count the Flight managers who where Union members
on 1 hand. (On one hand of a 3 toed tree sloth).

The majority of the remaning non paying NON-Members will all be retired by the next contract.

Agency shop has effectively nuetered the "I quit now that the contract we have a new contract" crowd. (where you here last time?)

It is a positive thing for us and although it cost nothing, I would have been willing to pay for it.

But which side of the bread gets their butter? Do you REALLY ever know? So "membership" in those ranks doesn't mean much to me.

I have to agree with Albie though, that agency shop tends to foster isolation, if not an elitist attitude.

Thanks, Albie, for having the pair to say such a thing. It's worth throwing the idea around. 97% voluntary comes across the table LOUDER. And a loss to 90%, then 85% by voting with your wallet keeps the boys honest and responsive. I felt more like I owned my own share in my ALPA when it was voluntary. When most feel that way, and you have 97%, you know where you stand. Do we really know today?

$0.02

I was at AA when it became an agency shop. That was to force the TWA pilots to pay for the contract maintenance. It was meant to make them pay for the contract work done on behalf of all pilots (union or not). IMO it does not strengthen or weaken the union, just $. Obviously didn't keep me from getting furloughed and a start at a better job.:)