Union question
11-20-2018, 01:58 PM
#41
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Originally Posted by Houpilot2001
Is it just me, or does anyone else thinks this was typed in word and the thesaurus function was used more than needed?
11-20-2018, 04:12 PM
#45
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Joined APC: Jul 2016
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Posts: 793
Union question
Originally Posted by Naviator
Newbie union question.
I’ve never been in a union before. As I understand it the primary things the union does that directly affects us individually are collective bargaining, contract administration, and grievance adjustment. At the same time I understand that these things are handled by committee members who are volunteer member pilots.
My question is, what do the dues pay for?
Thanks
I’ve never been in a union before. As I understand it the primary things the union does that directly affects us individually are collective bargaining, contract administration, and grievance adjustment. At the same time I understand that these things are handled by committee members who are volunteer member pilots.
My question is, what do the dues pay for?
Thanks
Items not touched on that ALPA provides.
Primarily safety programs for safer skies and environment that you fly in.
ALPA Lobbies the FAA, our Gov’t has safer skies than ever before. Skies that you work in. That’s one if it’s primary duties in which your dues go to. Safety programs. ALPA is consulted during aircraft designs with it’s pilots inputs.
The airline companies see the benefits of ALPA as well. Imagine impulsive and punitive Chief Pilots, DO’s, VPs of Operations taking actions unchecked, unhinged?
ASAP & NASA, and WBAT were designed by ALPA representatives, inputs and at creations.
Representation and legal help if you were ever involved in a accident/incident.
Pilot to Pilot programs for those in need medically or affected by natural disaster.
Loose your medical? Loose your job, but ALPA helps get you to experts & resources to help get you your medical back, monetary insurance options available.
Fatigue programs, and other risk management programs company would love to screw you over on, guess who is looking out for your interest, PIC authority and rights as a Pilot? ALPA, not AOPA, not the company, not the FAA.
Heard of HIMS? ALPA program that is know as one of the best if not THEE BEST alcoholism recovery program in the world, being mimicked world wide. Yes Alcoholism is a disease.
Overall, I’m sure you pay for Vehicle & Medical insurance just in case of an accident or incident even if you were not at fault, or even if you were due to circumstances, self inflicted medical issue (obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes). I’m sure u need it for your family as well, or life insurance.
Guess what? As a pilot without ALPA your throwing your future at the hands of luck, and the unknown of random CEOs and corporate greed and working conditions like crap. Your livelihood & career prospective without ALPA would be crap.
Skies would not be as safe as they are now. Companies (airlines) would ride you silly. Before Deregulation and ALPA, the Civil Aviation Board (FAA predecessor) and the Airlines were married in bed deeply., ie (Age 60 rule promulgation). AA CEO became Administrator of (CAB/FAA back then), passed laws favoring his former company AA trying to get ride of older pilots and increase profits.
Things like that can not happen these days Thanks to ALPA.
Besides our lower income Regional Airline pilot dues are nothing compared to what a these big dogs who are 25-30Yr FEDEX /AA/UA/DAL/ALSK/HWN Airline CA pay in ALPA dues.
They don’t complain. They see and are living the benefits of ALPA.
11-20-2018, 04:38 PM
#46
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Joined APC: Feb 2014
Position: Semi-Retired...
Posts: 3,127
Originally Posted by Naviator
People who doggedly and blindly defend unions certainly do get their panties in a wad pretty quickly. The first few replies seemed to have actually understood the question, then suddenly the discussion turned to people defending the need for our union and then quickly onto defending the idea of unions in general and how horrible the world would be without them.
Restated, the original question is, the important stuff is done by local volunteers, the lobbying stuff is done by a PAC not funded by dues, so what do the dues pay for? The question is not questioning the existence, need, or benefit of the union. The question is where does the money go? Is their a budget we can view? Is there an audit? Or do we give them millions of dollars each year and have no idea how it is spent?
Restated, the original question is, the important stuff is done by local volunteers, the lobbying stuff is done by a PAC not funded by dues, so what do the dues pay for? The question is not questioning the existence, need, or benefit of the union. The question is where does the money go? Is their a budget we can view? Is there an audit? Or do we give them millions of dollars each year and have no idea how it is spent?
It’s badically office space for every MEC, ALPA staff and lawyers, ALPA National HQ, contract services, and a host of materials and publications. I think the salaries are a bit high in many cases, but overall not too much out of line. The exceptions are the office staff who’s union is better at negotiating than the pilots... which is why the ENY MEC office secretary makes about $87k a year not including overtime. She routinely used to end up over $100k. The ENY ALPA senior attorney reported $199k in salary last year.
It was a tight budget then, even before it shrank to under 2000 pilots.
11-20-2018, 04:46 PM
#47
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Joined APC: Feb 2014
Position: Semi-Retired...
Posts: 3,127
Originally Posted by MD-11Loader
The people lobbying for the PAC work for ALPA. The PAC money goes to individual politicians, but Tim and the boys at ALPA HQ are steering the ship.
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