Guys:

How about this as an item of discussion on my trip yesterday? (I am testing reaction for how this might fly, if it could.)

What if rather than treating membership for our pilots as a right, we start to view it as a privilege and kindly ask those who aren't playing nice on a variety of issues important to the vast majority to SIMPLY LEAVE THE UNION, while staying on checkoff, of course.

I know this would be controversial, but why not?

Let's say that member X decides, "I'll pick up any DP I want (or insert your favorite issue here) and I don't care how it affects the majority of my fellow pilots." At that point and it would generate a note or call from LEC leadership explaining the offense and that while legal for him to pickup those DPs, it is running directly counter to what the union is trying to accomplish and hurts the SIG and weakens positions vs. the company, etc. So it happens again and everyone knows who it is and there is an "unofficial track" of this guy or gal's history and since the LEC discussion/letter didn't dissuade them, they then get a letter from the MEC chairman outlining the position again and that should there be a 3rd offense, his membership will be revoked for a period of x year(s).

I recognize this would be radical and could lead to the proverbial question of "What constitutes an offense that could lead to this kind of action being taken against me?" I don't know that answer. I do know that we have a number of people who consistently are doing things that while well within their rights to do so, it is killing the processes that we are working to accomplish as a Union and do we really want those guys as members. It's like at a Country Club--guy doesn't pay his dues and fees, guess what, his name goes up on a board and gets mailed to every member and he either withers under the assault and gets shamed into paying, or he leaves. Same thing here. Dude's not acting in the best interests of the Union on issues that are vital to the crew force, he faces some time out of the fold. We would take very drastic action immediately were someone to cross a picket line, why not emphasize the importance of other items, of course stopping short of outright banishing them forever? Maybe a little time in a penalty box might get some people's attention, it doesn't have to be forever.

Food for thought. Discuss.

WM

 

Great Idea.

But I think you're giving our MEC too much credit based upon their recent history. They say don't fly these but then tell us not to take action into our own hands. When I've challenged people I know about DPs, both of which I found because of this site. The one guy, a good friend, really didn't have a clue and managed to get rid of it only for it to be picked up immediately by someone else. The other guy, in my new hire class, just blew it off and said he didn't know and that they had dead heads(he was full of it). That dude has continued to pick up DPs.

 

Once you start down this road you end up with kicking a lot of dudes out for trivial reasons. I can see it now DW as the sole union member with the rest of us picking up the check.

 

Agreed. This idea will never work.

 

No I disagree - kick them out - or ask them to leave. We're really only talking about probably 200 people out of 500 in the crew force. If they don't want to play then we should ask them to leave. It won't just be DW - he's our leader, yes but we are the union and we'd be a lot more effective if we got a little tough on some of these turds.

 

Kick me out but keep my money. I don't think so.

If I don't pay dues at the country club I get kicked out but don't have to pay.

If this union was worth a **** we would have people wanting to join not being forced to pay dues.

 

Wildmanny,

Did you start drinking again?

Actually, I'm all for it. Kick their sorry a$$ out and keep their cash. First one to go is Dave W.

I'm here all week-
Haz

 

Do you think we would have a 7% B fund and our A plan without our Union ? Look at what FDX has done to the rest of the work force. I think your "forced" dues are a pretty good investment for the protections and benefits we have, I may be way off base but 1.95% is a small price to pay and well worth the money for protection of our A plan and legal services alone.

I agree we have many shortcomings as a Union and as Albie points out, jump in, the water is fine and there is plenty of room for more swimmers.

 

Nope, still drying out from a couple months ago in TPE. Not good.

WM

 

Whoever leaves the union now still has to pay dues no matter what...

Past...