That's a whole lot nicer a response than I expected.

I do not expect that the outcome of this election will unscrew in a couple of months what took 25 years and tens of billions to create, but, at least we would have some people looking at ways to restore unity rather than selling it.

We really want the "FOR SALE" sign off our jobs.

 

The simple difference is that many of the guys running are willing to look at how, and not just create reasons as to why not.

As I have stated, I am not afraid of failing, I am afraid of not trying!

 

Bingo. Regardless of how the elections turn out, the attitude towards scope issues is far different then it was pre BK.

In response to a recently passed resolution, C44 is putting out a great deal of info on scope and scope history at LEC meetings, the C44 website and in the C44 news letters. I'm surprised other councils did not follow suit with their own resolutions. My hunch is that C44 scope briefs will continue after this election and become a routine part of LEC 44 meetings and publications.

I don't think there is a single candidate running today that hasn't committed to protecting scope.

 

There will be a lot of this coming from C44. I know a few of the FO reps candidates running will make sure of that

 

Yes, and everyone else didn't try. It's not like we have had to deal with 9/11, a clueless management team, a deep recession, a hostile labor environment in Washington, two wars, doubling then tripling then quadrupling of fuel prices, the rise of LCC's, bankruptcy, a hostile takeover attempt, a merger, and now a deeper recession. I am probably leaving out a few things too. If you think it is because a lack of trying then you really have a very short time frame before you need to have results. I mean, if you try really, really hard, then I should be making a million or more in a few months, right. If you think better scope could have prevented this whole mess then you are laughably lacking in any strategic direction.

The fact is, you have no idea how hard it has been but you may soon find out. You guys are laser focused on your own belly buttons about scope and you may soon find out how much bigger the world is. I have seen this at countless pilot groups, you have some focused, single issue complainers get themselves elected by firing up a committed base, and then they start to wallow in the reality of the world. It is much more fun to sit on the sidelines and throw pies than it is to have to actually make something happen.

My guess is you have about a year before the pies start flying in your direction. Usually, the MEC then turns into a circular firing squad as we move into the blame game. You don't have to look to far to find a perfect example of this right now. If you play it right, you can have the pilot group fractured and infighting just in time for Section 6 negotiations to start. Hopefully, you will avert your gaze from your belly button and realize that these issues can't be solved by "trying real hard". Maybe you will come to understand how MEC's naturally are dysfunctional and it takes great effort to keep the team together, and that in and of itself is one of the most important things a leader can do.

I guess this battle weary group will just have to limp off and be satisfied with the fact that no one else came close to coming through this mess as well as we did. You can try to slough this off as lack of effort or lack of vision but you have no idea how tough it has been. Good luck, I am getting my pies ready.

 

We get it. Its been "hard". We have no idea how hard. We're all a bunch of ungrateful, uneducated whiners. Almighty Lee has led us through the wilderness when nobody else could have. We should elect Parker and Deist and the other "disciples" so Lee can continue to guide us on the path of righteous cooperation with management for our own good.

Bull. The Moak bunch have been in power for way too long. Its time for change.

 

There we have example number one. By the way, I don't care who you elect, I just care what they do with it once they are elected. When are you getting me my first million?

 

Good words of caution. They do not go to a deaf ear. But I regress.

First, I am not a single issue guy, but you know that. This point above that you quoted is in reference to the CPS issue. Every Rep I have talked to stated two of the three points that the MEC had an issue with. I gave you the fact that there WERE conflicts of interest with this. My point what that, I wanted to see a resolution to this issue that took a more timed approach, and a different outcome.
Fact is that there are a great many issues with the CPS structure, and were some unique opportunities with it. That has passed. The decision has been made. As I have said, let it be a bump in the road.

Second, if you take the point that I am not afraid of failing as a slap to you, the current reps/mec you misunderstood it. The point is that I am not afraid of trying to work my hardest for what our pilot wants and coming up short. (failing in the ultimate goal) I am pragmatic enough to realize as Bar put it, one term for one guy is not going to correct this ship. No, way no how.

We need to start by communicating a little better with out guys. That unto itself would allow the pilots to educate themselves on the issues. Like the last article in the Roar, we need more communication, and not necessarily from the Reps. We need opinions of the rank and file posted as well.
Understanding what the pilots want is not rocket science. Communicating that their goals and wants are in sync with the MEC is. That does not mean you/we will be able to obtain them. It means that the guys will know they are heard and their direction has been taken.

Getting you pies ready? really? spare me the drama.

Not one guy running is promising anything more than trying. They are not stupid to the fact that you cannot just snap your fingers and get what you want. You seem to think that I am totally and utterly disgusted with my current group. Wrong again. It comes down to communication, which I have seen some decent strides made in, in recent months. It is proof positive that at least the voices of those who want to be heard, are being heard.

If anyone is voting for someone because they think he can change everything, they better change their vote. You and I both know that is not possible. I want guys that are willing to look at any means necessary, from any source, to obtain what we all want. That is leadership.

In closing, I agree that MEC's by nature can be dysfunctional. Look at all of the special interests each faction of this group has. We have over 12,00 pilots. It takes a leader to make it work. It also take leaders to explain to their LEC's why decisions were made, and why they had to be made. That is the single biggest issue I have seen. People what to know when non-time critical LOA's are coming, and they want to know when they could not give input, how each of their reps came to the decision. I know that there are threats of lawsuits etc, but there has to be a way to make the reasons known to the group.

I have never stated that I have all of the answers. I am willing to take any idea and see where it goes. I want a win for this group. I am more interested in the idea than the source. That goes for me too. I am just one pilot in this group. I wholeheartedly know that if we get more involvement from the pilots, we will have greater unity in 2012. To do that, we need to get them engaged. To do that we need to communicate. With effective communication comes unity. With unity we have success.

If you want to throw pies, that is fine. I am willing to step up and give it the best I have. I knew there would be critics from the get go. It is what it is.

 

And to add one little tidbit. I have always been told why we can't, not that we have tried a,b, and c and the simple fact is that we want to but now is not the time, or we could not get all of that this time.

To me the junior guy, that is communication of the reasoning a rep is using to arrive at a decision, not just why not, or we can't or will not do something.

 

Let me add one more tidbit, if I may, especially for those in C44 who are like, "oh yeah, you know I need to vote..."

David Nestor
Chad Smith
Phil Martin

And wait, to those who are like, where do I need to vote?

Go to alpa.org and log in. You'll see a link with a VOTE button on the right side, click on it, vote. Simple.

Now, next trip, mention it. Make sure people know you are voting and encourage them to vote.