How do I get onto the ALPA gravy train? I want to "serve" my fellow pilots by consuming steak dinners and the best wine. Where do I apply?

You were asking a rhetorical question, weren't you?

ALPA is probably, all in all, more fiscally conservative than it has been in it's history. That's the story which should be told here. Ask a corporate pilot if what ALPA spends on a meal is reasonable and they'll tell you it is remarkably frugal. I've seen a few $2,000 bottles of wine and darned if I can tell the difference between that stuff and two buck chuck.

In positions of power and responsibility a high standard of decorum is expected. As such I am not sure that I understand when some of ALPA's Officers, Committee Chairmen and paid Consultants get on the web board belittling, insulting or haranguing their own clients. Generally, the lack of respect starts from the top. ALPA has forgotten who it works for. The membership has responded in kind.

It is entirely appropriate for a member of our union to ask, "where does the money go?"

ALPA's waste and abuse is an "issue."

Damn what are you guys eating, Ramen noodle and gov't peanut butter? Each time I go the grocery store it's $150....... (not defending the dinner in any way).

Really Alfa,? Really?

First, when I "layover in a hotel and Delta pays for it "they search for a reasonably priced hotel that meets the criteria established by the company, and both pilot and flight attendant representatives. The hotels are generally reasonably nice properties, but there is a very firm eye on cost.

Who picks the hotels ALPA stays in? Who audits their choices to make sure they are picking reasonably priced hotels?

When I go to training Delta doesn't "pay for my meals". They give me per diem of, I believe, a whopping two dollars and change an hour. It's roughly fifty bucks a day. I pay for my meals out of that per diem. If I choose to eat a nice dinner I have to ante-up out-of pocket.

Why does ALPA pick up the entire tab at a very swanky restaurant? Why don't they give the people at a conference, meeting, etc, per diem of say the average of Delta, United and FedEx? I would very much doubt they would be going to Sardelli's anymore!

In my opinion ALPA has shown complete disrespect for the membership by their profligate spending. It is obscene!

I also find it ironic that you defend the great sacrifices that poor Lee Moak made by having to move to the Washington D.C. area. He CHOSE to run for ALPA president.

What about all the Delta pilots who were MANDATORILY displaced from their bases? Yet they get precious few benefits in terms of travel or relocation, etc. Does Delta reimburse a pilot for a car when he's MANDATORILY displaced to a base hundreds of miles from his previous base? NO! So why should Lee Moak get that freebie, especially when he volunteers for the job? The same goes for housing!

You suggest I should "Grow up".

I suggest ALPA volunteers, or employees, should live no better than their constituents.

100 votes and this crud is over with!

Before I came to Delta, I was in a position where I was required to entertain as well. Those "representational funds" had an annual cap and I was required to account for every attendee by name and position.

Lee chose to take the job in Washington. IOW, he chose to commute. I also choose to commute. DAL doesn't pick up the tab for my commuter hotels or meals. It's part of the job.

You can defend ALPA and the Sardelli excess all you want. Your arguements sound very socialist. I'm just going to guess that you never actually were in business. You don't seem to understand that writeoffs are still expenses.

Ftb,
Funnier true story. When flying KC-135 a long time ago, the sign over the urinal said, "We aim to please; you aim TOO, please."
FATBOY

It is not ironic at all.

What is ironic is that the will of the pilots who Lee Moak serves is dismissed as "populist."Exactly. Rather than be vitriolic about the vino we need to take back our union. 100 votes at an LEC meeting would pass a resolution. 100 votes would probably recall Reps.