noguardbaby

Friends at NWA have been asking why Fedex Pilots are so intent on pushing Retro language with the AGE 65 legislation. At the FDX Alpa mtg Thursday night, the Chairman of FDX ALPA admitted he is responsible for introducing the retro language in Alpa's position.

Why???? If ALPA's intent is to represent the interest of all it's members, how can he possibly justify his actions, considering the level of harm this action will cause to the careers of 95% of his membership????

KnightFlyer

Question/outrage has been raised. Most FDXers are against. He went rogue. Recall attempt failed.

Ranger

Many of us have asked the same question. I can only say that many of us would offer our apologies. Personally, I will vote for a change when the opportunity presents itself.

iarapilot

I apologize, in advance, for every bad precedent our MEC makes; past, present, and future. I am serious.

Albief15

I have pointed this out in the past. Members of Prater's Blue Ribbon panel indicate he was a bull in a china shop on this issue.

Only choice I have is to A) take it B) recall him or C) run and try to represent what the MAJORITY of pilots want. I won't do A, and B is futile. Those of you in blocks 2, 5, and 7 can vote however you want. You know, however, where I stand on how our MEC leader abused his power on this issue.

The argument for the language was simply that if we didn't represent "all" our folks equally, we would be subject to lawsuits and decertification efforts. Yeah...really high pk of that happening, IMHO. We cannot even vote in an LOA that will fill more than 10 FO slots in HKG...but we are worried about lawsuits from 100 over 60 guys? Focus is lost...

I trust two people right now on our MEC. He ain't one of them.

NoHaz

Can you refresh me why B) is futile and along those lines isn't our (Fedex ALPA) biggest threat to decertification and lawsuits the fact that DW continues to push his personal agenda vice the majority of those who elected him?

Albief15

It futile based on a cumbersome and difficult parlimentary process and a "circling of wagons" whenever someone on the MEC takes heat. It is futuile with the low level of participation we have in our processes--although by stifling ANY attempts to open up meetings via tele-communication the union also inhibits a whole lot more input from the masses. Micro showed up with proxies and lots of info--but the Germantown mafia knew he was coming and had plenty of of their own there to make sure the outcome was decided.

The reason we make it hard on ourselves is to protect a solid leader who sometimes makes a tough call. We don't want our officers recalled and traded in for newer models willy nilly. We need stability in our offices. At the same time, I've said publically we are WAY beyond stable now, and instead seem to have an elite professional cadre of union folks who do all they can to promote their own agendas, stifle outside input, and keep the doors closed as much as possible.

Unfortunately, making it easy replacing an MEC president means potentially weakening the union later when you get the solid guy you want in office. There are always trade offs. I don't like agency shop. I never missed a dues payment--but I hate anything not voluntary (hence my abhorence at STVs in this LOA). I also think we could adjust the rules and by laws to allow recalls and inputs from the crowd to be more effective. Why should it take 2/3 of the folks to recall a block rep? Why can't we call for an election with 51% of the membership indicating they want a change? In a perfect world, we wouldn't need to swap leaders--but its not a perfect world and we need a realistic mechanism to increase member's control and input into the process. We have taken the "representative democracy" concept to a point where we abuse out members then tell them its for their own good. I don't think college educated pilots with the experience we have on our property need that much protection--I trust them to make good calls based on sound judgement. We do it every day flying--we can do the same for our careers.

Finally--its futile because the MEC does its best to control information. Remember those ALPA boards everyone screamed for us to use to discuss our beefs? Know where they are now? Scrubbed! I can look at FI or APC and track posts back for YEARS...yet someone on the MEC told me that the ALPA boards are automatically deleted to keep them "fresh". One of the first things I would do is require that those boards be kept up and open for at least 2 years...you should be able to SEE and READ for yourself what your reps are doing and saying.

In the meantime--I'll post here. I trust the mods at APC more than I trust my own union. How friggin' sad is THAT?

nightfreight

Albie,

I sure hope you win the block rep position. You obviously know that everything that you have posted has been read by most of the folks at the MEC. I don't think you will get a warm reception and it might be uncomfortable for you, but I think you know this already. Good for you dude...... Changes are in order there and I am glad we will have someone that will actually represent our interests, not hook up their buds. Good luck..... And, thanks for stepping up the plate!!!!

Roberto

It is unlawful for a labor organization to discriminate against any individual because of his age; to limit, segregate, or classify its membership, or to classify or fail or refuse to refer for employment any individual, in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive any individual of employment opportunities, or would limit such employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect his status as an employee because of such individual's age; or cause or attempt to cause an employer to discriminate against an individual. (Age Discrimination and Employment Act of 1967)

MaxKts

So when are you going to start fighting for the 25 year olds who want to be President of the United States?