88,

I agree the article is well written and I like what they say. The problem I have with it is not the article but ALPA actions. ALPA apparently takes actions contrary to what the article suggests.

Scoop

All of the May CA bid awards are out on the Crew Resources page. Not a single FO award - it's a conspiracy!!

Um yep, we are more picky. We all know we need to bid for Mother's Day off whereas Captain's have "been there done that." :D

Mother's Day is next month?!? DOH!:eek:

Its because FOs are allowed to use the AVOID EMPLOYEE ID function... :rolleyes:

That's funny.

This is unbelievably frustrating for a new guy. Pretty much forced to join ALPA (you don't have to join but you still have to pay dues). But since then I have yet to see them stand up for us on anything. I have yet to see one piece of communication written strongly enough to reassure the membership that our best interests are in mind. I get a glossy publication every month (waste of dues money) full of pictures of bigwigs shaking hands. The only information contained therein is a list of things National is doing.

But if so much progress is being made, why haven't things gotten any better? During my admittedly short time here, it has felt a lot more like socialism than a representative democracy. "Delta pilots, ALPA will argue on your behalf when it's in the best interest of ALL ALPA pilots". Which I'm starting to think means never. Where do I get a DPA card?

No, really, where do I get one?

Delta Pilots Association - Home

I'm sorry for you coming to this realization. Many of us have come to the same conclusion you have. But it's the new younger people that will be able to make Delta Air Lines a better place by your paying attention to the lack of substance from ALPA. It makes me feel like there's hope for the future.

Carl

I tried voicing dissatisfaction on the DAL ALPA forum with how 88/90 pay is the only airframe to have a pay difference. In so many words what I was told was you have to give to get. You mean giving MD-90s to ATL and more revenue generating seats on the MD? For that we get nothing. A captain let me in on a secret: there aren't senior Capts or F/Os on the maddog...what do you expect?

Thanks...was pretty much ungoogleable. Maybe that search will be met with success now. :D

Hey!! At least Crew-pass is sort of here!!!!(Sarcasm) Trust me, I would rather wait in long lines and have a great contract!:)

TEN

Funny. It's like a Captain told me, "fwiw, this is a Captain's airline." He said he learned that lesson the hard way prior to becoming a Captain. But I guess in truth, it's not an 88 Captain's airline either?

Some of the guys have said there are single class MD90s seating 166 passengers floating around the system. I've never seen one nor do any of the books seem to show it but I don't deny it.

Obviously 166 seats is more than the higher paying 737 and A320. However, 747 pay = 777 pay and they don't seat the same but maybe it's time if those two pay the same that the 738, A320 and MD90 pay the same?

{Insert usual suspects here posting about UAL widebody payrates precedent and how the payrates will be aligned in the downward direction on narrowbody unless you want to give up something in return.}

As far as a scope violation by RAH, I wouldn't be surprised if NOTHING happens because that is safest for ALPA.

One possible scenario:

Individual files a grievance about RAH with MEC.

MEC won't pursue it but won't release it either.

If they releases it then a pilot (or a group of pilots) could pursue grievance OUTSIDE of ALPA.
There could be a possibility that ALPA would end up siding with the company against an outside grievance depending on the temperament of the MEC and the legal team at ALPA National.

There is always the slim hope that DALPA pursues this issue vigorously, not just paying lip service.

My guess is it will disappear into the filing cabinets if someone files a grievance over RAH and single carrier.

Yes, and just to add some background as to how the 73-800 and -700 rates were equalized (and, no, they weren't initially). DAL or DALPA or whoever made the tradeoff to equalize the rates but not pay the international override when the -700 goes south of the Equator (eg, Quito). That's the way it was explained to me, any way.

Yes that's what I understood too.

I still say, what happens if the APA pursues this and proves RAH is a STS and kicks CHQ out of American Connection?

DALPA might then pick up the ball and run with it, only if there is enough percieved populist support to do so, all the while acting like it was their idea all along in "enforcing the strongest scope in the industry" or whatevers.

When I saw the smiling faces on the cover of the "Last flight of Midwest" issue, the magazine started going directly into the dumpster. I won't even bring it in the house.

FWIW, I've heard the RAH issue is generating a lot of blow back. Coupled with the FPL issue, as well as the fNWA grievance issue, the DPA is probably seeing a spike in interest.

Nu

shorted pay check
 

Hey does anybody know what to do when your paycheck comes in short? Like only about 10% of normal?????? I used sick leave and also flew a white slip(my only one ever) and the pay should have been the sick value of the trip plus the white slip, but instead it looks like the sick was omitted entirely.....any how to would be appreciated.

Hey, at least Alpa is providing you with the most expensive Soduku puzzle at the end of each monthly mag!

Nu;
Agreed. I have gotten that impression also. There are "facts" to the Republic STS case that must be looked at. That position seems to be the concensus of many of the reps too. I am sure Tuesday's Special MEC meeting will have some fireworks. I suspect it will all be in "Closed" or "Executive" session though.

Haven't heard much about the FPL thing. Wassup with that?

I know you do not want to hear this, but first E-mail payroll. Their address is at the bottom of your pay stub. If you get no resolution from that, call them. Heck do both simultaneously and then is that does not work, call 1-800-USA-ALPA.

What does your time card say? That's the easiest to read. Look at your pay statement too. That might have some answers.

I get your frustration. I had it too coming to DAL and as a result got involved in a few committees. It allowed me to see both sides of the argument.

That said, unionism is a two way street, and you need to engage your reps on every issue. I do and am grateful for the dialogue. It provides perspective that line pilot generally do not have on many of the issues. Like it or not your reps have more facts, and many of them cannot be published in an e-mail or official publication.

On the publication front

The ALPA National Airline Magazine is from your National union and the local level has not say in that.

At the MEC level they publish the "Widget" every so often. That is our big publication. On top of that there are about 20 or so other forms of communication the MEC uses.

On the LEC level each LEC employs different mediums in which to communicate, and all of them vary in frequency depending on the LEC Council. These updates can be very in depth on all of the issues, provide strong criticism or support for a given issue etc. The way the Union is set up, this is where the majority of your communication on each issue should come from.

When something is decided or a piece of contract language is TAed the MEC provides that communication.

Furthermore, if you do not like what you see, blast em, tell them what they are doing wrong. Walking in the other direction does not solve the root of the issue. It took me being very engaged in each issue to get the level of understanding I wanted. Now, granted, I want more info than the guys I generally fly with. Because of that disparity, ALPA tries not to SPAM our group with multiple communications on the same issue.

What is the policy on deviating DH on the front end of a trip. I have a pattern with a DH has a 24 hour sit then operates 2 legs. Can I deviate DH on same day as operating the flights and stay home an extra day?

What are the rules?

If you're a lineholder, you just tell scheduling you're deviating. You're on your own getting there though - no positive space travel.

Reserves need permission from scheduling.

Permission is almost always granted to reserves though in my experience. I have never been turned down.

Thanks for the info.

Absolutely. No question at all about that.

Nu,

Yep there has been a spike in interest in DPA, hope that it continues. The DPA members that I met in the ATL crew lounge were very honest trustworthy Delta Pilots.

In contrast, it seems that some ALPA Reps that were placed in the same area, on admitted flight pay loss were less than professional.:eek:

The time card shows the sick leave on there but doesn't assign it any hours, that is the closest I can figure......I still am not sure how to read the delta net, icrew time card though, my secret decoder ring never arrived in the mail.

Molon, I've always just called the pilot pay folks. They've been very accommodating and informative. There is that pilot pay guide thingy on Deltanet but just give them a call and they'll either explain it to you or fix it for you.

Hey unit monster you stole my drink.

Short paycheck
 

To acl65 and buzzpat, am calling around now and am looking for the lefthanded smokeshifter or the bucket of propwash....will let you know how the scavenger hunt goes....Thank you for the info and will report the results.

So, I was doing some reading on Japanese Nukes, and I came across this. (Really) Things must be getting back to normal if they are doing the swimsuit fashion shows over there.


?????????????????????????????


Warning. View the above link alone.


Oh, it says it was in 2010-11-14. Oh well, good viewing anyway.

FO schedules are out even though it doesn't look like it. Just need to click on the _.

Side Question:

The A320 converted to ship flight bags...What are the FOs required to carry now? Have trouble finding this.

If you had signed up for the ALPA Textcaster for your category, you would have gotten a text saying they were on the DeltaNet, and then one saying that they were uploaded in to DBMS. Really good stuff. I knew I needed to check my sked when I got that text, and sure enough, there they were.

Got all of what I requested off as well.

Flashlight, Certs, Medical, Passport, and Headset if you want one. On the 320 do not forget your adapter thingie :D

Plus your McRB binder, which should be in your vfile by now, according to the bulletin.