jdt30

After the ethics article scandal in the ALPA magazine I've come to the realization that the magazine is quite a waste. I've spoken to several pilots before the article and since, and most say that the magazine arrives in the mailbox and goes straight to the recycle bin. I've heard guys call it the most expensive magazine subscription known to man. I would like ALPA to cancel the magazine, and use the money saved for something productive. Such as a dues reduction, or extra money to lobby congress. This is just my opinion, and definately not worth much, but I wanted to see what other pilots thought.

Lambourne

IMO, the best course of action would be to eliminate ALPA. Since a union is really the pilots of the airline working together on issues affecting the pilot group. ALPA national is a proven failure. Not listening to its membership (AGE 65) and trying to be all things to all pilot groups (LCC's, Regionals and Majors). It can not represent the interest of all these accordingly and it is doing a very poor job attempting to do so.

It is time to send the bloated and egotist like Prater and Rice back to the line. Let these clowns earn a living flying airplanes instead of pontificating on how important they are to MY needs. They have not done anything at ALPA national to protect the interest of my pilot group in a very long time.

L

satchip

I threw mine away so I didn't read the article. What was the controversy?

SourGrapes

I want my 2% percent back. They are completely useless. Secretaries at ALPA make more than me. I couldn't believe the salaries of these people. I can only find 2006 data, but some of them made almost half a million a year. My current contract is only slightly better than the FAR's and my pay is pathetic. Haven't had a raise in years while they "negotiate". And when they do settle a contract, I won't get any back pay...what a joke...

That whole alpa magazine was so condescending and pathetic, it made me sick to my stomach. Then I find out they made up stories to force us to be more "professional". The writer of that article makes 140k a year, can you believe it? It is quite apparent that alpa has lost their way, we need new representation as pilots.

jdt30

Here's a link. http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/mi...-magazine.html

Lighteningspeed

I agree. ALPA has always been the senior wide body CAs' Union. They have not represented the interest of junior mainline and regional pilots' interest. ie. Age 65, Scope giveaway to subsidize senior CA pay and benefits. Don't get me started on age 65 rule, which by the way passed with speed I have never seen before. Just look at the crawling speed with which Crew Duty and Rest requirement rule is being handled. Compare that to the 3 month it took to pass the Age 65 rule.

I agree with Sourgrapes that it is pathetic and disgusting that almost everyone at ALPA makes over $100,000. ALPA travel specialist makes over $100,000. This is a clerk who makes phone calls to make your travel reservations and hands you the travel itinerary. ALPA bigwigs probably makes in excess of $250,000 doing nothing but telling everyone what a great job they are doing.

Our union dues are way too expensive and we, junior pilots, get nothing of value in return. I toss ALPA magazine into the garbage where it belongs, although that is one expensive magazine subscription. I am also nauseated by constant self congratulating articles touting how great Prater is. All those fat cats needs to go back to line flying and do some real work instead of sitting on their fat behind at some fancy restaurant spending our union dues, pretending to conduct a ALPA Union meeting.

johnso29

An American Eagle FO was picked as one of ALPA's role models, & featured in an article titled 'Mature beyond his years' or something like that.

Anyway, in the article it says this American Eagle FO is also a member of NJ Guard unit & flies F-16's. Only problem is, a specific unit was mentioned. This specific unit has other ALPA pilots in it(who've also read said article) & they have never heard of him. It's suspected that this FO lied about many things, including flight time. This of course would be a black eye to ALPA, considering they picked him as an ALPA role model. Alpa is conducting an investigation so more to come.

TenYearsGone

As pilots a majority of us are Conservatives, thus I can see your frustration.

True, Alpa is a political machine. True, Alpa officers do get paid more than we do. True, sometimes it seems like they turn their back on the working stiff.
However, look at your management, THEY ARE NO BETTER! They come in, pilfer your company and leave.

What needs to be done is EDUCATION. EDUCATE the new pilots and reEDUCATE the old pilots.

We, as pilots, need to get bold and aggresive. ALPA needs to start showing some teeth and declare WAR when needed.

Currently, UNIONS and Conservatives dont mix. Everybody is out for themselves. Until you consider the UNION as ONE PILOT, then you can hold your CONSERVATIVE nature to your heart and FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU DESERVE.

Remember, The UNION (although democratic in nature) is really a good, "selfish" means of attaining the best in work rules, pay and what once was retirement. We just need to start being STRONGER.

TYG

Phuz

Yea to hell with the magazine, it is a waste of money. If they have something important to communicate, do it by email for FREE. Thats fine!

I'll take the dues reduction, thanks.

deltabound

The Mag needs to go. It's a glossy, landfill filling, dues wasting anachronism. Seriously.

Every ALPA "call to action" that has inspired me to write my Congressman has been because of a blast e-mail or a story on the ALPA site itself. Emails, twitters, websites, youtube, etc . . this is the what modern mass communications is all about.

It'll never happen, of course.