I'm not sure how you fight the market forces concept when it comes to new hire pay. With thousands of applications on file at our current starting pay level, the company wasn't willing to adjust the issue according to our negoiators. Face it, Fred and Herb are nicer than our boss. They do get insurance on the first day now though.

 

Lets see Non Member Bob. You are a former CAL pilot who went on strike 20 years ago. I'm guessing that since you are still flying you didn't retire from the military, so you have no pension from CAL or the government.

Turns out you are also a realtor, who I'm guessing, has no retirement or pension from the Utah Realtors's Benevolent Society or any such thing.

That means you are a career airline pilot with zero pension, EXCEPT what the union (ALPA by the way) just went out and protected for you. You are exactly the type of pilot who needs the union the most (career civilian with no pension and/or health care options, other than marrying well).

And yet you don't think the union that just went out and got you not only pension improvements, but retiree health care benefits as well, is worthy of your membership because the majority of the members disagree with you on one issue?

ALPA, the union that negotiated increases in the health care benefits for ALREADY retired pilots.

That is the union you quit?

On top of that you have the gall to lecture anybody who disagrees with you on that one issue about how they are what is wrong with the union.

Of course you write lots of articles, so you are obviously the expert.

Too bad you don't really have a voice.

How about ponying up and then maybe somebody will listen to your expert opinions.

Until then, ****, aszhat.

 

This is an excellent opportunity to again briefly address the issue of pilot unity to the half dozen or so people who read this board. I have openly made the same points hundreds of times in papers and discussions:

1. Pilots who have been on strike for two years, given up ten years of their careers to protect the profession, been wiped out financially on behalf of their fellow pilots, and are now approaching an artificial retirement age, are not going to strike again for a group of historically-challenged, self-serving pilots who want to put them out of a job so that they can move up a number. Not going to happen. If certain pilots cannot tolerate or deal with this honest and open expression of reality, then they will have to deal with the internal weakness it creates;

2. An organization that willfully and purposefully puts its own people on the street solely on the basis of age is not a union. Call it anything you want but it is not a "Union." It is an embarrassment to unionism. Go explain to the California electricians union how pilots treat each other and see what kind of response you get. I was raised in a hard-core, striking Teamster family. I spent two years on strike myself and I am grateful to have had the opportunity. Resignation from ALPA is not resignation from a Union; it is resignation from ALPA...big difference;

3. I have never even once thought that a senior pilot was "in my seat," and wanted him out so that I could move up. Never. The very idea of this is the moral equivalent of crossing a picket line and it is the very "scab" mentality that has brought ALPA to its knees. Every morning, I wake up grateful to not be contributing to it financially. My contributions go where they will do some good for a broad range of individuals.

The Labor movement has collapsed in this country because of some of the very sentiments that have been expressed on this board by anonymous, risk-averse individuals. These are not the bold warriors that make up a strong organization. Union membership in this country is down to 7.8% of the private workforce--virtually extinct--and you wonder why? Reciprocity is a very big part of fairness. If pilots choose to disrespect and ignore the contributions of those who have paid the real "dues" for their profession, whether it was paid three years ago or 30 years ago, it clearly signals to everyone that paying the real dues is not worth it. Who do you think is going to fight the next war? Those who want their fellow pilots out so they can move up?

Now, I will entertain comments from non-anonymous contributors. When writing, please stand up and state your real name and credentials so that others may fairly assess your credibility:

 

It seems there are folks here who have a problem with R.J. However, he does make some good points. Like this one...

Tell that one to Falconjet.

 

So NMB will you be fighting just as hard in 5 years since 65 is just as arbitrary as 60, or are we just delaying your "Train Wreck" for another 5 years

 

He can start making good points as soon as he says, "I've paid my back dues and am a Member in Good Standing of the Collective Bargaining Agent that currently represents me and ensures that I enjoy the benefits that I've been enjoying all along at the cost of my fellow pilots who have paid their dues the entire time."



Of course Lavender has not thought that a senior pilot is "in his seat." The reason is simple: he's content to fly, or only capable of flying, the right seat. He's the selfish one, nonetheless, demonstrating that he will not strike for junior pilots. (That would be in Paragraph 1.) Scab mentality? He's got a lot of nerve trying to describe that. (That would be in Paragraph 3.)



Now I feel disgusted that I even skimmed his drivel. Stand up and state your real name? HA!

More like, Sit down and shut up.








.

 

My name is Aaron Hagan. My locker number is 3135. I don't hide.

You are a cheap **** and I don't want any more of your drivel in my locker.

 

Tony,

Your points are well taken, too. Of course, you have more history with him than we do.

 

Yeah ... what Tony said!

 

You are WHACKED!!!
How can you honestly think that any of us would listen to a word you wrote or spoke when you will not be part of the solution. Try being a DUES PAYING MEMBER, then get on your soapbox.
You think this Age 60/65 thing is done...think again NMB. This is going to take a long time and a lot of input from the industry and the Pilot Groups--That's ALPA!!!
The Age 60/65 battle may have been lost, but the war is not over!!!