A few random questions and points...
09-11-2008, 03:00 PM
#21
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Posts: 398
The company IS training guys on the 777. Right now. In SEA. The Standards class, hoping they can all hold it when the bid comes. They all have to keep current in their old seats for right now. Many are regular line pilots right now.
09-11-2008, 03:05 PM
#22
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2007
Position: A300 F/O
Posts: 217
Originally Posted by Albief15
Ladies and Gents,
Question: Have you read your ALPA magazine this month? I will be the first to say I've scoffed some of the stuff in it in the past, and hated the John Kerry push a few years back. However, the "Got your back" articles are a very good read and show why having a good team on your side can save your career when things get squirrelly with the Feds or the medical guys. The story outlined about a violation is remarkably similiar to a story I got from a retired Delta captain and mentor of mine who described how the DALPA MEC and Safety team helped turn the feds off of a captain they accussed of dinging an altitude in PHX years back. Believe or not, some of our dues actually do go for something besides feeding me at MEC meetings (did anyone notice their dues spike when I joined in March?).
Comment: John Prater has taken the advice of the FedEx MEC chairman (who told him over and over and over and over and over) to NOT endorse a political candidate this year. I back McCain, yet with him bashing unions in his acceptance speech you can only imagine the pressure the AFL-CIO put on ALPA to publically endorse Obama. Instead, ALPA National gave in to pressure and YOUR request not to endorse. In the big scheme of things--maybe its not that big of a deal--but it was a win and it shows they will (sometimes) listen to input. And--the muscle and effort behind that was none other than the oft villifyed Dave Webb. For you who want to support the Dems you can sign up at an airline pilot for Obama site...I don't have a link but I'm sure it will be published shortly.
Question: Have you read your ALPA magazine this month? I will be the first to say I've scoffed some of the stuff in it in the past, and hated the John Kerry push a few years back. However, the "Got your back" articles are a very good read and show why having a good team on your side can save your career when things get squirrelly with the Feds or the medical guys. The story outlined about a violation is remarkably similiar to a story I got from a retired Delta captain and mentor of mine who described how the DALPA MEC and Safety team helped turn the feds off of a captain they accussed of dinging an altitude in PHX years back. Believe or not, some of our dues actually do go for something besides feeding me at MEC meetings (did anyone notice their dues spike when I joined in March?).
Comment: John Prater has taken the advice of the FedEx MEC chairman (who told him over and over and over and over and over) to NOT endorse a political candidate this year. I back McCain, yet with him bashing unions in his acceptance speech you can only imagine the pressure the AFL-CIO put on ALPA to publically endorse Obama. Instead, ALPA National gave in to pressure and YOUR request not to endorse. In the big scheme of things--maybe its not that big of a deal--but it was a win and it shows they will (sometimes) listen to input. And--the muscle and effort behind that was none other than the oft villifyed Dave Webb. For you who want to support the Dems you can sign up at an airline pilot for Obama site...I don't have a link but I'm sure it will be published shortly.
Thanks for the note. Just a couple of comments from the cheap seats.
I too read the ALPA magazine this month. Some good stuff in there. I couldn't help but think that this wasn't merely coincidence that this issue came out as the union debated whether or not to endorse a candidate. I took this issue as somewhat of a "stern warning" about what the consequences might be if somebody decided to quit the union as a result of them endorsing a particular candidate. Kind of inappropriate if you ask me...
For as many times as I have bashed the union on APC in recent months, I will now publicly thank ALPA for asking for and listening to the inputs provided by so many pilots in regards to this upcoming election. I have no love for either "the chosen one" or "the aged one", and truly believed that the best course of action was for ALPA to abstain. THANK YOU, ALPA, for listening to your dues paying members! See, that wasn't so bad now was it?
During this past summer, I moved out of your block with the seniority realignment. Thanks very much for your active role and participation, Albie. For the little time that you were my block rep, I felt like I received more information, feedback and honest answers than in the past 6 1/2 years combined. Keep up the good work!
HerkDriver
09-11-2008, 03:24 PM
#23
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: A300/310 Capt
Posts: 1,642
Originally Posted by Fedex999999
The company IS training guys on the 777. Right now. In SEA. The Standards class, hoping they can all hold it when the bid comes. They all have to keep current in their old seats for right now. Many are regular line pilots right now.
I know, I live in a dream world..
(I still say that the union should just quit wasting time and energy on getting the deserved payrate for the 777.) Screw'em.....
09-11-2008, 03:26 PM
#24
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2008
Position: 757 Capt
Posts: 107
Our union has proven itself useless of late. Our union lacks leadership. The union could say something simple like we are currently trying to negotiate the implementation of the 777 and would appreciate your support. In other words don't bid it or support the company getting it on property until we have an agreement. Then as a crew force we should police ourselves and get it out of everyone's standing bid. Hell if the only guys bidding it are the scumbag non-members lets set the payscale at narrow body and double everyone's per diem and improve the duty rig. Come fellas talk it up and let's get a little cohesive action here. How hard is it to ask everyone to remove it from their standing bids. I know everyone here either has a set or used to lets get something done right for once.
09-11-2008, 03:27 PM
#25
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: May 2006
Posts: 2,889
Originally Posted by Gunter
What exactly are we going to do if the company puts the bid out and starts training guys without a better pay rate?
Do you think the union would ask us to do anything? How many do you think would jump on the bandwagon?
Do you think the union would ask us to do anything? How many do you think would jump on the bandwagon?
Where does power come from, the members or the leadership? When we quit looking at each other to go first and instead look in the mirror and decide what WE already KNOW we should or should not do, then we will have a mature union. We are almost there, but not quite yet. So--I would ask everyone--what do YOU think would help your NC the most? What do YOU think (based on your education, past union experience, and gut) think would be most effective? Your own NC told you 777 was NOT a valid choice. What else do you have to be told?
09-11-2008, 03:39 PM
#27
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2008
Position: 757 Capt
Posts: 107
Quit making excuses and do the right thing yourself and tell the guy next to you what you are doing, why, and trust he will follow your lead. The scary thing is our union has accepted this artificial ceiling of the A380 pay-scale. Are you kidding me? Come on a 6% pay raise for an airplane with much more capability than the other wide bodies. Hey if the company can throw around random numbers how about this one, $325/hr that is what Delta paid 777 Captain's before bankruptcy. Let's get a reasonable pay rate based on some reasonable comparable, revenue generated, weight, profitability. Come on let's get someone with some brains and nuts to negotiate for us. I for one am tired of helping the company out, of taking one for the team, of being bent over at the negotiating table. Get the 777 of your standing bid, contact your union rep and negotiating committee and demand better.
09-11-2008, 03:41 PM
#28
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: Drinking from the fire hose
Posts: 305
Originally Posted by FDXAV8R
Our union has proven itself useless of late. Our union lacks leadership. The union could say something simple like we are currently trying to negotiate the implementation of the 777 and would appreciate your support. In other words don't bid it or support the company getting it on property until we have an agreement. Then as a crew force we should police ourselves and get it out of everyone's standing bid. Hell if the only guys bidding it are the scumbag non-members lets set the payscale at narrow body and double everyone's per diem and improve the duty rig. Come fellas talk it up and let's get a little cohesive action here. How hard is it to ask everyone to remove it from their standing bids. I know everyone here either has a set or used to lets get something done right for once.
I do feel that what you said in BOLD should be said also. Time for the union AND us to stand up and have a backbone.
09-11-2008, 04:03 PM
#29
done, gone skiing
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Rocking chair
Posts: 1,601
Where's a good moderator when you need one.....
Originally Posted by Albief15
Ladies and Gents,
Question: What is on your standing bid? When the union asked for an LOA COLA for LAX a few years back, the company's lead attorney printed out the standing bid list. With so many already bidding LAX, they didn't feel compelled to bargain. Your NC would like to know what is on YOUR standing bid. The last comm I saw said 757 Paris and 777 MEM were NOT valid bids. What happens next doesn't just depend on your union reps...it depends on all of us.
Question: What is on your standing bid? When the union asked for an LOA COLA for LAX a few years back, the company's lead attorney printed out the standing bid list. With so many already bidding LAX, they didn't feel compelled to bargain. Your NC would like to know what is on YOUR standing bid. The last comm I saw said 757 Paris and 777 MEM were NOT valid bids. What happens next doesn't just depend on your union reps...it depends on all of us.
Originally Posted by Albief15
..................... I will be the first to say I've scoffed some of the stuff in it in the past, and hated the John Kerry push a few years back...................
Comment: John Prater has taken the advice of the FedEx MEC chairman (who told him over and over and over and over and over) to NOT endorse a political candidate this year. I back McCain, yet with him bashing unions in his acceptance speech you can only imagine the pressure the AFL-CIO put on ALPA to publically endorse Obama............
Continue as you were...
09-11-2008, 04:50 PM
#30
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Position: 767 Cap
Posts: 1,306
Originally Posted by FDXAV8R
The union could say something simple like we are currently trying to negotiate the implementation of the 777 and would appreciate your support. In other words don't bid it or support the company getting it on property until we have an agreement. Then as a crew force we should police ourselves and get it out of everyone's standing bid.
