And for the VIDEO!?

Hellooooo? Anybody home??? Where's the video at last?

Sucks for you guys-it was a pretty good flick. It disappeared from the first site, then reappeared at another, and looks like now has dissapeared again. I'm sure it will reappear. Patience is a virtue.

What video?

No problem, we're happy to carry the water for you types that, really believe your (good) pay and benefits are the result of your prowess at the negotiating table.

You can roll your eyes all you want… but look where you are with your great union representation and take a look at some of us are who think ALPA sucks. I haven't read any posts from you how proud you are of ALPA with how they handled the NWA and DAL negotiations. Why not? Come on… you seem to have all the answers. Go on… beat your chest and tell the world how wonderful you think ALPA is! What? All you can comment is carrying my water??? What the hell does that mean? My prowess??? still confused. Baa Baa Baa

Sorry about you being confused, seemed pretty clear to me. I'v reread my posts, your responses and others you've written (recently) and conclude your contracting yourself overseas, am I right?? You believe the pay you receive is the result of your persuasive ability to convince some foreign carrier your worth what they pay you?? Good for you. That said, you not convincing anyone that some how you are setting the scale for contract captains, where you work or anywhere else for that matter. As I said in my first post, we all help to set the scale that we all work under. You have alluded to ALPA's inability/complicity in the lowering of pay and benefits at several ALPA represented airlines. True enough, ALPA represents the pilots of several airlines, in bankruptcy (and some that aren't). Many of these airlines are under stress, not because the pilots or ALPA have lead them into financial duress, but due to the actions of their respective managements and how they have managed/reacted to changes in the market place. As the (national) representative of most US airline pilots, it is natural they would be the standard bearer of the pay scale for much of the airline industry. SWA, a non ALPA carrier is unionised, its pay and benefits have only lately be held up as bench mark of pay for airline benefits. Their company has been profitable, due to a good business plan and execution of same. Whether ALPA, SWAPA, IPA, or AAPA, pilots working for pilots determine what they consider fair (either advancing or back tracking, taking into account the possible consequences of voting down the TA) when they vote on their contracts.
You, on the other hand, just being one guy have no say on how much you are paid or what your benefits are. Sure, you may negotiate some terms (paid physicals, that's great, and some ALPA airlines have that too) but in the bigger scheme of things you had little to no say what you where/are paid. Either (you) take it, or leave it.
If you have such great terms, good for you; post them here, our pay is all here for anyone to see. Understand, even if your honest, there will be sceptics, private terms (are usually) boasted only if they are favorable, few people will admit openly be hosed on something that is not generally open to view.
I hope your no longer confused.

You still haven’t addressed the great deal that is on the table for DAL pilots, nor the deal that the NWA pilots received.

I do my own negotiations based on my own specific needs. It’s a free market for those who want to have their benefits enhanced within their precepts of the individual’s contracts. I can't comment on your situation. I don't know if you are employed by an airline with a union shop.

I never suggested that ALPA or the pilots are the leading cause of the airlines problems. A true message on behalf of DAL and NWA pilots could be sent if ALPA sanctioned a nationwide strike in support of them.... solidarity. In house associations have that same control too.

American, Southwest, and other airline pilots with in-house associations are way ahead those pilots that are represented by outside organizations.

I still endorse in house associations... much better controls... much better interest in the respective pilots’ carrier's situation... much better detail to the respective carrier's operation as to the affect of the pilot group... much better control of finances. As each airline pilot group has their individual needs... we individual contractors do too.

You are correct about regular line pilots being offered a non-negotiable contract as to pay and benefits. However captains qualified as check airman, instructors and management types have greater power to negotiate certain provisions to be included in their own individual contracts.

You need to be educated as to why we contact our services. The object of the game is to be in control of our desired life styles in negotiating our pay, benefits, working conditions, time off, completion bonuses, etc. That's the basic concept of being an individual contractor. As an aside, research the number of pilots are opting for early retirement from DAL, USAir, and NWA and seeking employment overseas. Also ask the question why?

As with pay scales being available to all who are interested, basic contract pay and benefits are also available to those who want additional information from various contract employment firms.

The video at the beginning of the thread dumby....

Did you mean dummy?