How so? The Ace app which is over 2 months behind and falling further behind by the day?

 

I don’t blame ALPA for that, I blame using the PWA as toilet paper….

 

I flew with an FO rep one time and that poor guy was on his phone responding to emails and texts every time we were at the gate between flights and on layovers.

 

You sure are naïve on how this all works. Try pointing your pistol at someone other than the ones trying to help you.

 

hence one if my earlier comments about the nearly total and complete inability of ALPA to influence operating within the constraints of the contract.

 

I can tell you with absolute certainty this is false beyond belief. I had the polar opposite experience of what you’re trying to insinuate here.

 

Just telling you when I was at the regionals I had lawyers from our local council call me directly within a day on multiple occasions on issues I had. I had $5K taken out of my paycheck one time as a new hire here and I tried to get someone at ALPA help me figure out what happened. I gave up - never talked to a single soul at ALPA about it. So maybe it is just a result of having such a large pilot group but I have actively sought help here and have never gotten even a response on multiple occasions.

Queue the obligatory, "well you could volunteer your time you know" comment. At this point all I want from ALPA is a contract that moves the ball forward instead of back. I know I'm basically on my own for most issues so at least deliver on a contract.

 

Pretty good deal over 18 months. However, it isn’t really 18 months. It’s many more since it has been years since the amendable date. Even more in the future, assuming they will not have a deal for a follow on contract at the future amendable date.

If it passes it will be because pilots choose to get something rather than nothing, with little to no chance to capture positive time value during the time it will take to fire the MEC Chairman, Negotiating Committee, half the MEC, elect new reps, select new Negotiating Committee, re-survey the pilots, generate a new table position, engage management, then finally come to an agreement. All of the above happened at Delta and it took 11 months. Historically, that was exceptional fast.

The pilots there and here are in a tough spot. Time value degradation is very real and extremely punitive. It’s why management loves to drag out negotiations for years. The railway labor act and political realities have massively stacked the deck in favor of extending negotiations out for many years. We have largely failed to acknowledge this reality. A serious shift in strategy is required.

Section 6 essentially handcuffs pilots until being released from mediation and allowed to proceed with self help. Extending that release date indefinitely is the strategy of the NMB. Politically, a strike will not be allowed. Pilots have no such handcuffs outside of the amendable period. We are not bound to the status quo. A different strategy would be to focus on specific levers like no overtime campaigns, that would create significant pressure on management to address our needs outside section 6. Perhaps it’s time to acknowledge the section 6 process is not our friend and largely serves managements interests.

To be clear, no overtime campaigns within section 6 are illegal and will result in an injunction and possible summary judgment against the union. Outside, a education campaign executed by leadership to illustrate the power of negotiating leverage is perfectly legal. The question is whether any pilot group can unify to exploit said leverage. I would like to be optimistic on that front, but history isn’t particularly friendly to that notion.

 

Unfortunately, you’re on target. That’s the way it works. This illustrates the downside in being a follower rather than a leader in section 6. Another pilot group can control the outcome on your property.

 

You do realize that sword can cut both ways, don't you?