Carl,

Hey, you know I'm capable of independent thought. The union's concerns also had to do with the time and potential cost of moderating the board (I'm sure you did not want your dues going to that) and liability was a distant secondary concern. I don't care about the former as much as you do, but I completely see the liability exposure.

It was not about member's personal liability. ALPA does not care if I get sued for something un-related to my employment. The problem was that ALPA can get sued for something you write, if they provide the platform.

And yes, the DPA operates in exactly the same legal environment.

The DPA committed to an unsustainable position because by their inexperience they just don't know any better.

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IE: At a Local DPA meeting I stand up and shout "no more overtime ... make them park airplanes on the weekends" and the crowd goes "hell to the YES!" and chants "no more overtime" there is no way the DPA would put that up and if they did the lawsuits would be a flyin' tout suite.

or

In reply to my post on the new DPA Board Captain known as Jerry Curly Jagomerditian threatens to punch me in the nose and kick me off his airplane next time I show up at work. I, fearful that Captain Jerry Curly Jagomerditian is serious drop my trips and file suit in Fulton State Court against DPA for allowing me to be threatened.

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We have free and open communications ... here (support Internet Brands) or here http://dalpilots.forumchitchat.com/

No need to get nasty Carl. :D

Love ya..... mean it.

T Square ... as soon as they run this idea of broadcasting LEC meetings on the web past Counsel, it will get shut down.

http://static1.businessinsider.com/i...win-iphone.jpg

Alec Baldwin is ecstatic

Bar,

I can be a little obtuse, but what is this site you speak of?

We have free and open communications ... here (support Internet Brands) or here http://dalpilots.forumchitchat.com/

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I think you have to register, but it is a forum set up just like the old ALPA forum. So far, everyone is being better behaved (which is ironic, really). I prefer this place, but for discussions which one would not want to have in public, it is terrific.

Richard Anderson on NPR:

Delta CEO: Washington's Fiscal Gridlock Is Holding U.S. Back : NPR

This entire post nailed the forum shutdown issue perfectly. It's worth a bump.

DPA's biggest issue is that they are willing to promise anything, even things that would cause harm to the pilot group, to force a vote.

ALPA can always do better, and I'm willing to bet the the new forum will be improved over time. However, it was never intended to be Hangar Talk Part II, primarily for the reasons Bar lists above.

If you think it can't happen, look at the 49'ers here at Delta (49 pilots that were on the chopping block for organizing a no overtime campaign) or the UAL pilots that cause the entire U-ALPA unit to be placed under an injunction, effectively neutering them from taking even a half step towards a confrontational stance with their mgmt. Much of that case was supported by web board posts showing the pilots (in writing) organizing an illegal self-help campaign.

The ALPA sponsored forum was a liability, plain and simple. I for one, am glad it's gone, and don't see it as any form of censorship whatsoever. We are all still free to come here and biatch to our heart's desire.

First, thanks for the Mercury browser tip. I'll try it.

Second, if anyone thinks DAL won't sue us at APC, you are greatly disillusioned. They would sue us here in a heartbeat. It won't matter what you post, you could be the most pro-company check airman and they will fire first, ask questions later. Don't kid yourself.

While my legal opinion isn't worth much, I think DALPA's interpretation of streaming union meetings is pretty farfetched. It takes a lot to rise to the level of "concerted activity." I think the Courts would give us a lot of leeway in our expression of speech at union meetings. Even if you said something as indiscrete as "Let's burn the place down," you would need means, opportunity and action to make such a threat a problem. Heated speech isn't against the law.