Perm11FO

If for no other reason other than a dedication to a cause and using factual data to support his logic, I nominate Iarapilot for post of the year on the cargo forum.

Furthermore, I have not seen a better and more succinct review of how we failed at "Unity 101 - Stand as one for what is right and needed." Yes, the post is long, but that is because of all of the ways that we have failed Unity 101.

Failed miserably. Iarapilot's contention that the 32%ers will ultimately be proven right cannot be argued as either "The sky is falling" logic nor "I drank the Kool-Aid, why do you ask?" logic. Only time will tell.

Finally, on the 3% question that started this thread, remember that "our" MEC's vote to accept the pay increase and delay the reopening of "talks" or to forgo it and start "talks" earlier are meaningless. If "our" MEC votes to forgo the increase and go to negotiations, the company is under no mandate to actively participate. They never have been.

Sorry to say, but the "talks" that our NCs over the years have held with the company were, in many cases... "talks" where the company spoke and "our" reps bowed. I think that contract language uses the term "negotiations" for a meeting where each party enters into the meeting with a reasonable give and take attitude.

Yikes, can you imagine????

Albief15

Maybe what we need is more leadership.

Like...just maybe...LAG could throw his hat in the ring for block 6 since we have ZERO people running for the open block rep seat. Maybe the rest of you that whimper that 67% don't "get it" and wring your hands on this site could get off your @ss and step up and wade into the fray.

I did it. I hated the LOA and the way Age 60 was handled...all old news. But unity only comes when we have leaders at the point, and lately it seems that the only people that are running for leadership positions are some of the same guys who were around for Age 60 and LOA 1. I have lost all respect for about 95% of you arm-chair quarterbacks who spew ideas and pontifications and whimper about how "bad" our crew force acts, but won't step up to the plate when we have a void.

I posted a thread about the openings a while back. Two replies. A post about how to watch NFL overseas went to three pages. Block 11 has ONE guy running for the largest block. Really? Are 600+ guys incapable of having maybe...say TWO guys who could do the job?

So--its just words. Blah, blah, blah, we should do better, our leadership caves, blah blah blah.

You guys will get what you get until you decide its not enough and act. If you just keep whimpering, it will be the same people making decisions for you the rest of your careers. I may elect to serve again at some point, but we cannot be one -man deep in each position. The loss of Fred Buesser should show you why we need some depth...sometimes we lose pilots, and sometimes people need some downtime for personal or family reasons. However, I am both embarrassed and ashamed to have spent so much time bantering ideas in the past on this board when I thought that it might make a difference. It absolutely doesn't, because most of you are 95% air and 5% substance. If any of you want to prove me wrong and run--step up. My home number is in VIPS, and I'll be glad to tell you the goods and others of serving your fellow pilots.

FDXLAG

All that I said was six months ago most of us thought we had no leverage. The rest of us thought we gave our leverage away. Nothing has changed leverage wise (or with all those pesky side issues) in the last six months, so almost all of us should think we now have no leverage (and we would be right). Take the 3%.

I'd run for block 6 rep, but I dont want to have to suck up to all those block 3 and block 11 members in order to win.

But on a seperate note I did admire the last chairmans message on taxes.

4A2B

well so far you would be the lone candidate in Block 6. So throw your name in the hat and don't worry about "courting" block 3 or 11 or 6 voters for that matter. And ditto to everything said by wise Albief15

iarapilot

I dont assume that your post was directed at anyone in particular, but I will respond.

The folks that rant on here have their valid reasons, some subjective and some objective. Some good points and some not so good. It is a way to vent and let your point of view be expressed, for whatever that is worth!

Having said that, running for office and affecting change is not a bad idea. And I thank you for your service. Unfortunately, many probably arent able to do so, for various reasons. As for myself, I have family obligations that wouldnt allow it, I am not very diplomatic or PC when confronted with outright BS. You could say the same about those who moan about the Prez, or Congress, or whatever. Doesnt necessarily mean they should run for those particular offices.

I remember EI when he was the SFS rep. He is a good guy, and tried to do what was best for all the pilots, not just the Subic guys, concerning the FDA LOA. He was treated as a pariah and I dont think any of his expertise was used during that time. Like the everyday politics of our time, he was marginalized and his constituents were called proponents of hysteria.

Having stepped up and served your time, do you feel like you created any change or different way of thinking in our Union leadership? Or, did they tell you that what you are saying sounds good, but...

I am not asking to be a smart a$$; I am serious. Was it just the usual politics or serious debate with serious concern with respect to the views you presented? My point is, that generally speaking, it is the same old stuff, different day. Unless we could clean house, get rid of every rep, and start from scratch. Then we would have to hope that the new gang had a different mentality and approach than what we have had in the past.

I agree with you that we will get what we get until we decide its not enough and act. But my way of acting is taking personal responsibility to not do the things that I have mentioned here millions of times. That is the way I show my unity. Even if your elected leadership is bad, you can send signals to let then know where you stand, collectively, like no bidding the 777 and many other examples.

I think you coming across as going off on the guys here that cry and moan is maybe a little to harsh. As for myself, I cant run for office, but I sure as heck can stay away from DPs, extra flying when the time is right, enjoy time off, especially during 4A2B, etc, etc.And least of all, I can whine like a baby./pilot!

Albief15

Well...let's see....

We got three new officers that were not the first choice of the outgoing chairman... If you think that was fun or easy, you are wrong.

We got an improved telecommunications/media program set up so you can now see what goes on at a meeting if you can't get to Germantown on a day off...

The FDA guys got almost double their LOA 1 allowances. Why don't you call/email the Hong Kong rep and ask which rep was always in his camp when it came time to help those guys out?

Ask the guys of my block how long they had to wait for a call/email to be returned, of if I ever sold them a "party line"?

So...you got a family--me too--three kids. A working wife. A side business. Another side business--a stable. And I commute... And I"m sure I am just the king of charm when hit with BS too... I'm tired of hearing guys say I got a one-eyed dog and I'm a little league coach and that's why I'm just to valuable at home to work one week a quarter on the road and stay engaged with my union leadership...

And "get rid of every rep?" YGTBSM. The lack of anyone else stepping up means the same names will get recycled over and over. The lack of initiative is what creates the cronyism and status quo you bemoan.

Not everyone can step up--I get that. 3 out of 1500 is pathetic. I'm not interested in why 1480 of cannot do it. I am interested in the why 20 won't raise their hands.

MD11Fr8Dog

FDXLAME!

iarapilot

Well, I get your point. Hopefully I made mine. And good on you for all the things you did.

And, my dog still has two eyes.

Full pull

Back to the original question, contract extension or new contract? It's obvious now the new rest rules aren't going to change anything. So let's move forward with the contract, we'll get our 3% annual raise in retro.

DLax85

You'll get plenty of Block 11 votes ---- RUN!!