Originally Posted by Bucking Bar

FTB,

Bill Swelbar has my respect, although he lags many of us by six months to a year in his published findings. Bill Swelbar was one of the first "authoritative" sources who documented ALPA's involvement in the selling of scope (bargaining capitol). At that time such a statement was highly controversial (yet true & I had been making that point based on ALPA's own publications for years).

Back then (early 2010) Bill's opinion was that unions had learned their lesson and would not repeat the errors of the earlier decade. I (for one) wrote him, saying that while I hoped he was correct, several of his own data points were not in agreement with his own conclusions:

• ALPA's politics have not changed. The union members maintain an obsolete view of mainline flying which was the product of vastly different revenue and cost structures.
• To maintain a pre-deregulation fantasy career, ALPA has systematically sold off assets which harm its ability to negotiate future contracts. The greatest, of course, is scope.
• If Bill needed an example, he need look no further than the Delta MEC's handling of Compass.
• Economically, a "just say no" platform was not viable as a result of the effect of other stakeholders who would assert their interests.

Now Swelbar sounds as if he has been enjoying meals with Lee Moak.

Bill's mistake now, is that he assumes outsourcing is necessary to operate a small jet at reasonable cost. He also assumes that ALPA remains intransigent on small jet operating numbers. ALPA will also need to embrace other stakeholders as a matter of economic pragmatism. (pilots operating across certificates using one seniority number)

Originally Posted by Ferd149

Slow,

What Bar said ref Compass.

I had trip with our exLAX LEC rep/hotel committe guy. Had a long discussion on this issue and we never did get a meeting of the minds as his main point (as I understood him) was that it was a conflict of interest to have them represented the way they were. I guess it's always going to be a slightly religious issues with me as it goes back to my voting NO on the bankruptcy contract (what started the discussion with MA) as I said no NewCo (Compass) and I ment it. After having it stuck up my arse, I expected us to take Compass back at the earliest opportunity. I thought the merger was that opportunity, but you guys didn't agree (straight party line vote).

Anyway, water under the bridge. But, I continue to think we made a mistake.

Ferd

PS MA is a great guy and I enjoyed flying with him. I also gained a great deal of understanding of how DALPA operates and almost volunteered to be on the hotel committee...ALMOST

Originally Posted by NuGuy

Heyas,

The Compass sale was facilitated by one thing, and one thing only...releasing the company from the SECTION ONE clause that prohibited the divestiture of CPZ until there was a minimum number of DC-9 replacemen aircraft on the mainline property. Kicking the CPZ guys to the curb was just the end part of a sequence of events.

THAT was part of the JCBA that the fNWA guys had no hand in crafting. That was the way it was going to be, period.

Had the fDAL negotiators NOT given that away (and it was GIVEN away), we'd either still have CPZ or we'd have our DC-9 replacements.

It amazes me still that such an epic crank steppage occured.

Nu

Originally Posted by scambo1

Ferd;

Does Godfather's have a by-the-hour hotel upstairs?

Ferd for hotel committee. Ferd for hotel committee. It'd be the most senior layover in the system.

Originally Posted by newKnow

So, we got the pilots through the flow through (slowly), but not the airplanes. Great deal.

Speaking of slowly, are we still waiting on slowplay?

Originally Posted by forgot to bid

Iaflyer,
On your paper napkin write down one other airline- FedEx. An airline that pays a second year Airbus FO $144 an hour.

And the best part, no nagging FAs like Swelbar to tell you to throw your contract and YOUR airline under the bus.

Originally Posted by Ferd149

The barmaids aren't very cute at the Godfather



PS........my "barstool" would be just to the left of the girl on the left. In fact, her elbow would be in my eye

Originally Posted by scambo1

Ferd;
Just for you, I'll take the fat chick.

Originally Posted by slowplay

And also one that is completely inaccurate.