Not even close. We've been railing for years that we send money to a bloated, inept bureaucracy that harms us more than hurts us. We're stuck with ALPA national, so let's get some leadership that gives us a return on our investment, rather than treating us as an ATM.

And the "conflict of interest" critique you referred to (shared by thousands of us) arises because ALPA represents regional pilot groups whose agendas are not even close to ours--not because ALPA represents other mainline groups. But you knew all that.

I don't care who leads "our" "union" as long as he/she produces favorable results, is a good steward of our dues money, and stays out of our way when it comes to negotiating in a highly favorable environment. Moak is 0 for 3. Let's be realistic. Another entrenched insider isn't going to enact meaningful reform--or more specifically, meaningful reform the benefits us pilots.

Anyone who agrees with Moak's verbal diarrhea advocating for only minimal improvements in our next contract most certainly is NOT on my team.

So where do you stand on Moak's interview comments? Are you going to attempt to paint them as positive for us? (I'm pretty sure I know the answer to that.)

 

Trying to put in a GS FOR 31Aug. Do you have to wait until the current month is over to do that?

 

No. You can put it in any time now.

 

The first thing we need to establish is that Bill Swellbar (who's responsible for the MIT airline data) is a freelancer to the airline industry. He has been a paid "special witness". He's basically for sale to the highest bidder. With the wads of cash Delta has, it wouldn't be hard to imaging the benefit an airline such as Delta would have to have Swellbar cook the numbers in a special way....can you smell what the rock is cooking? Then have guys like Sailing serve it up with a cup of hot tea.

Remember Mike Campbell who is retiring now. He worked for Ford & Harrison LLP (not to be confused with Harrison Ford....he's an actor) consulting firm that directs airlines how to extract the most out of labor while making them smile and ask for more. I think it's naive at best for guys like Sailing to keep using these numbers without actually seeing the books they were supposedly derived from. On the other hand, Sailing is all about anything that attempts to paint the pilot group as under productive/over paid with "mature contracts".

William S. Swelbar is a Research Engineer in MIT’s International Center for Air Transportation, where he is affiliated with the Global Airline Industry Program and Airline Industry Consortium. Prior to accepting his research position at MIT, Bill was President and Managing Partner of Eclat Consulting, Inc., a firm he founded. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Hawaiian (Airlines) Holdings, Inc. Over the past 20 years, he has represented airlines, airports, investors, manufacturers, and labor groups in a consulting role. A significant amount of his career has been spent studying market behavior resulting from structural changes in the competitive environment, including mergers, alliances, new entrant carriers and new aircraft technology. Bill’s work has included competitive assessments, cost-benefit analyses, and other economic and financial advisory services in support of strategic planning, corporate communications and labor negotiations. He is also a much sought-after speaker and also has provided expert witness testimony before various tribunals and before the United States Congress regarding the economics of commercial air transport.

Mr. Michael H. Campbell is Executive VP-Human Resources & Labor Relations at Delta Air Lines, Inc. and a Member at State Bar of Georgia. Mr. Campbell was previously employed as Of Counsel by Ford & Harrison LLP, Senior VP-Human Resources & Labor Relations by Continental Airlines, Inc., and Partner by Ford & Harrison LLP.

 

A bridge exists between Purple Drank and Liene Lodge's positions.

The whole point of a national union is so that we can coordinate our interests before we sit down with management. We can coordinate to unify. In unity there is power.

Unfortunately we've had successive administrations, both local and national, which have failed to administer our Association in accordance with it's governing documents. Structurally, we lack any sort of judiciary function except for action by our Status Reps, most of whom don't truly understand the Admin Manual and Constitution. As a result attorneys from National come down, run over our Reps like a Zampolit in the old Soviet empire.

Much of this problem exists so that our union can engage in selling one member's job to benefit another member. We are where that problem starts, and ends.

Mark my words, ALPA is probably going to lose this whole NAI fight because we lack the moral authenticity to take a political stand. A certificate of convenience in Ireland is not a whole lot different than one in Columbus Ohio, St. George, Utah, or College Park, Georgia. What is the difference? NAI pays better than DCI. We've been selling every job we could for years. Are we just ****ed because we are not getting paid?

Don't get me wrong, fighting NAI is the right thing to do and I send money to help ALPA PAC in their mission. But, our hypocrisy on DCI muddies the water too much to pigeonhole anyone on NAI.

 

No just change the date on the slip requests from aug 01 bid month to aug 31. Upper right hand corner...

 

Or Green slip on the 30th and agree to fly 5 days into next month ... if you want to fly on the 30th.

 

Exactly. And I see where Swelbar modified his bio to leave out the following, which was previously in it:

"Prior to accepting his research position at MIT, Swelbar spent 25 years in the consulting world with a focus on airline labor cost restructuring, regulatory issues governing air transport, communication strategy and support, and air service development on behalf of airports and communities."

 

Well stated Bar. But you've been relatively silent on the Moak interview and Heidi's letter. I think she's striking just the right tone regarding how to utilize a national union. What say you?

Carl

 

Trip ends on the 30th...it kept booting me out she I tried to change the date. Didn't try date in the upper right hand corner. Thanks for the quick responses.