From now on the answer to the question "what are you willing to give up to get [fill in the blank] shall be answered with a definitive:

What are you, DALPA/ALPA, willing to give up to keep us from signing our DPA cards?

 

Sign your cards and mail them in, but before you vote realize what you are giving up.

I say to you, get involved, throw you name up for a P2P guy and get front seat access to the decision makers in your union. You will quickly realize why guys like me support ALPA and all that it offers.

No one discredits that there needs to be some changes in a few area, but to start anew in the world we live in is just plain naive.

 

ACL, There is a change coming to the Delta MEC with the elections that are underway. I see a more aggressive personality for this group of new LEC officers coming in and expect good things. I am going to volunteer for the new P2P and hope to make a difference. This DPA group has no future.

 

Clancy, agreed. Lots of guys seem to be signing on to P2P.

 

All,

As I read the ongoing debate over the merits or lack thereof of DPA, one point really keeps bothering me:

Who are going to be the legions of Reps, Officers, Committee Chairs and volunteers, staff, etc., etc. that now represents hundreds of volunteers just at DALPA, never mind having to pick up the functions that would have to be duplicated from National?

Don't count on any current volunteers - every Rep (past and present) and volunteer I have spoken too has stated unequivocally they do not support DPA and would not even consider volunteering there should there be a switch in representation.

It is certainly legal and within ones right (other than using ALPA assets to do so) to advocate for another bargaining agent, so there is nothing to fear in publicly declaring ones intent to run for a position. Right now I can identify no more than 3 principals in DPA. Where is everyone else and who is going to do the work, giving up much of their personal free time to do so?

I find it inconceivable that anyone would even consider replacing ALPA without knowing exactly who and what is going to actually represent them. I don't expect anyone to name themselves here, but perhaps they will start naming candidates on their web site willing to stand up and volunteer for all the various positions so we can judge the caliber and expertise of those who are proposing to replace ALPA.

Where are the meetings scheduled so that pilots can meet their potential DPA candidates? Saying you are mad as hell and kicking the table over is easy. Getting a seat back at the table and doing the actual the work is not. My experience is those who criticize the most vocally are usually the last to volunteer to effect meaningful change, so I'm counting out most of those I see posting here.

"Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself"

 

Great post Fly4.

 

I would not worry to much about DPA. I have not even seen a card to send in. They don't seem well organized. The entire infrastructure that would have be to be rebuilt is beyond huge. Just the contract section we have is a beyond tremendous asset to all pilots. I suspect dues would have to be in the 3 to 5 percent range to get things up and running and provide anything near what ALPA currently provides. I know a large number of USAIR pilots. To a man they suppported USAPA. To a man they now admit it was the biggest mistake they have made.

 

Well if you haven't seen one, then I guess they don't exist, right?

"These aren't the droids you're looking for." - Obi-Wan Kenobi

From what I've seen, they are fairly well organized for the stage they are in. This stuff doesn't happen overnight. But it's also not rocket science. We have a lot of talent and experience in this pilot group. I see no reason why a new union (whether that would be DPA or something else) could not utilize that talent and experience in a comparable or even better way to how it is being utilized now with ALPA.

I seriously doubt that. Care to show your math on that one?

Apples and oranges.

BTW, in case you guys missed it, there's already a very active thread discussing DPA creatively titled, "Delta Pilots Association."

 

You have to keep the horse in front of the cart. There has to be a vote to even put representation up for consideration. No sense in getting an entire new union up and running before it becomes apparent that it is even up for consideration. I'll be patient to see how this develops.

 

DPA is gaining steam. There is a very real possibility of a de-certification of ALPA vote within the next year.