No one but those at the top were happy to stagnate where they were for an extra five years, no one.

That said, its over, and a issue a lot bigger is in front of us. ALPA and ALPA-PAC are aggressively fighting this. IMO, ALPA is fighting issues that are critically important to its pilots. Securing your job from the ME threat is currently the most visiable but there are others. Take a look at the site I listed above, Pilot Partisan | Advancing a pilot partisan agenda in Washington, D.C. and Ottawa Go look at what our professiona lobbyists and pilot operatives are doing to further and protect our careers. 45 bucks a month is cheap insurance if it allows me to earn a few million in my career.

+1
Those at the top remained at the top for an additional 5 years when the music stopped playing.

I just got an email that mentioned an upcoming MEC meeting in Washington D.C. from April 29-May 2. They'll be staying at the Washington Court Hotel (on Capitol Hill): Washington DC Hotel - Washington Court Hotel

Just for fun I checked kayak.com for rates at the Washington Court for the nights on 4/29, 4/30, and 5/1. Cheapest rate was $332.00/ per night plus taxes and fees.

In my lifetime I don't think I've stayed in a room that expensive. Strikes me as (more) wasteful spending....

Did you check to see if there was an expensive Italian Steakhouse located nearby?

So "just for fun" Kayak shows you a price that includes 50+ rooms for 5-6 nights, multiple conference room spaces, a/v needs, catering for breakfast and lunches, etc. included?

Wow! Didn't know you could do that on Kayak...:rolleyes:

Groups often negotiate WAY lower prices when combined with other services in a bulk setting.

Umm... are you trying to make this sound better or worse?

I'm gonna guarantee you have stayed in a room that expensive while in the service of your employer.

I was told the meeting is in DC for a reason, and to do that means a hotel that is accessible for presenters. I am sure that when the agenda is published there will be some visitors that make the meeting location make a lot more sense.

In response to Shiz;

Hes right. When you book a meeting as large as your union's, it takes space, logistics etc. I have always wondered why we do our meetings where we do, so I took it upon myself to talk to the person in charge of putting these things together.

After multiple conversations about rates, negotiations and real needs, I came to a few conclusions:

-These meetings are big

-This many people requires space and to get space and functionality it requires a certain type of hotel

-Our MEC and its ALPA employees that are responsible for negotiating the deals and bundling of these events do an awesome job of getting an awesome rate and good deals.

-We do not just pick a hotel and pay what they demand. We send out bids and then negotiate.

-Many of the rooms are either free with the conference room, or the conference rooms or combination thereof are free with the rooms.

-These meeting are getting progressively cheaper than they were a few years ago due to many things.

The focus on budgetary constraint is good, and it has actually reduced a few expenses, but remember one thing, hotels whether its the Holiday Inn or the Loews make their money off of conferences and meetings.

Also, the food is not excessive and challenge anyone to come to one of the MEC meetings sit in open session, and spend the evening with your Reps. When I have zttended, its actually eyeopening and the excesses that are talked about are not present at your MEC's functions. Its quite the opposite.

Really? I'm curious ACL, where?

You sure about that?


ALPA News Release

May 25, 2004 ALPA Endorses Kerry
WASHINGTON, D.C.---The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), the union that represents most of the nation’s airline pilots, has endorsed John Kerry for president. The union’s Executive Board voted unanimously to endorse the presumptive Democratic nominee at a meeting today in Washington.
"The evidence is clear that President Bush’s record adds up to an unending string of actions that have hurt pilots, other working Americans, and the unions that represent them. It is time for a change," said Capt. Duane E. Woerth, president of ALPA, after the vote was announced. Reached on the campaign trail, Senator Kerry placed a call to the pilots, thanking them for their endorsement.