OBJECTIVISM:

Found this on another site. Please enjoy,



Delta Council 54
September 21, 2010
Election 2010 Edition

The results of the three levels of ALPA elections in the next few months will likely critically impact everyone’s career. Having almost 20 years of combined experience at the MEC table, we offer our viewpoint on these elections for your consideration. Feedback/input is most welcome.

There is palpable dissatisfaction with the state of our union and our country. The basis of the fundamental problems of both is the same. We, the electorate, fail to elect competent individuals who can adequately address the relevant issues of today and tomorrow that we face. The truth is that the root of our dissatisfactions lies not in the structure and constitution of the governing bodies of ALPA or the United States, but in the people we put into office. Often the resulting office-holders pursue their hidden agendas instead of taking care of the business of their constituents. It is much more effective to make informed votes prior to an election to ensure a better governing body than it is to try to undo the mess that results from poor office-holders. This fall all of us have the opportunity to go to the polls and elect good people. Let’s do it.

The pilots in good standing of Delta Council 54 are now in the process of electing their Local Executive Council, which consists of three representatives. These individuals are automatically members of the Delta Master Executive Council and ALPA’s highest governing body, the Board of Directors. The nominating process for this LEC election will be completed at our Council 54 meeting on October 4. The final election process for this LEC will be completed later this fall. The term of office begins March 1, 2011, and lasts three years. If you or anyone you know wants to get involved, act now. At a minimum, cast an informed vote. Our contract opens during this term.

The Delta MEC has an election scheduled this November for its four officer positions. The positions are chairman, vice chairman, secretary, and treasurer. As you are well aware, the last Delta MEC officer “election” was held January 17, 2009, with the Delta South representatives dictating to the Delta North representatives which pilots would be “elected” to these four positions. This action undermined the Delta MEC as a body and demonstrated poor judgment by Captain Moak, his regime, and the Delta South representatives. We deserve much better from our Delta MEC.

Your Council 54 reps are dedicated to electing MEC officers who believe in:
A bottom-up organization, which is honest and transparent.
Fiscal responsibility - We have a 14.2 million dollar annual MEC budget, which the MEC has not been allowed to vote up or down despite our efforts so far.
Operating like a business, not like a cult, i.e., actually considering the ideas of those other than a closed circle of “true believers.” Naturally, that requires “secure” leaders who don’t feel threatened by others.
The value and purpose of the MEC instead of working to minimize it.
Communication with our line pilots and the MEC. Captain Moak and his regime are loath to put anything in writing. Committee members are prohibited from contacting MEC members, and if an MEC member contacts a committee member, that committee member must report the contact to HQ. Committee reports to the MEC must be approved by Captain Moak’s team, which then manages the information the MEC gets and adversely affects our ability to make proper judgments. Knowledge is power. We believe in power to the people.
Setting the bar higher in negotiations instead of setting it low and then declaring “success” on what is achieved. Our contract opener is nearing, let’s actually achieve success.
Working with our management when appropriate, but not working for our management.
Keeping commitments to members of the MEC. For example, in exchange for Council 54 withdrawing a relevant resolution, Captain Moak committed to the MEC to provide a written copy of his chairman’s report, which is given to the MEC at our regularly scheduled meeting, to those who wanted it. We subsequently requested such copies and he did not produce them.
Due process, for example, Chairman Moak denied those who filed the NWA merger fund grievance access, input, or review of the process or the subsequent settlement. A lot of money was involved and we are completely dissatisfied with Chairman Moak’s action. The next Delta MEC chairman must respect the integrity of the grievance process. Of course, he settled the 76-seat grievance, which amended our contract without MEC input, in February 2009.
The value and benefit our small jet brothers and sisters can and do bring to our profession.
Encouraging talented volunteers instead of driving them out because they fail some loyalty test.

If you or anyone you know has any interest in these positions, please let us know. The term of office begins January 2011 and lasts two years. Again, our contract opens during this term.

The ALPA Board of Directors has an officer election scheduled next month. Some of the positions are president, first vice president, vice president-finance/treasurer, vice president-administration/secretary, and executive vice president. The four declared candidates for ALPA president are listed in alphabetical order; Captain Moak, Delta MEC chairman; Captain Prater, ALPA president; Captain Rice, ALPA first vice president, and Captain Stratton, FDX MEC chairman.

We continue to evaluate this election (and the elections for the other national officer positions) very closely and we will look carefully for the candidates who understand the challenges of the industry, the needs of the ALPA membership, and the responsibility of representing all 53,000 ALPA pilots in these challenging economic times.

We will focus on their record and ignore their campaign rhetoric. We believe the winning candidate for ALPA president will be the candidate with the vision for a renewed and relevant ALPA, a proven record of unifying leadership, and ethics that are believable in this era of consolidation.

There is a drive for an independent union here at Delta. We oppose this action because it will damage our careers. If a new union is certified, it will be peopled by the same volunteers and be broke to boot. Is it rational to engage the Company in the upcoming contract negotiations without adequate funding? Being a union member should stand for something, and being an ALPA member should mean even more. An increasing number of pilots, from all over our seniority list and from other airlines, are expressing that there is nothing special about being an ALPA pilot. We, as your representatives, are concerned about this attitude - you should be too. Volunteer and/or vote to protect and enhance our profession. Make an informed vote on November 2 for the sake of our country, as well.

Be Safe,

 

There is some truth to it. What it also did is prove that pilots are willing to accept lower rates when the RASM of an operation like Express will be less. It is something that never should be repeated.

 

Why not?

I'm all for a sustainable business model.

The alternative is to outsource flying in markets where we compete. RASM is down 36% since 2000 and mainline domestic seat miles decreased by 30%. Over this time domestic ASM added by Low Cost Carriers increased 134%. ASM's by the "regional" sector increased 178%.*

I would prefer we perform our own work and those who don't want to bid the lower paying equipment can use their seniority to avoid it.

* Credit: Bill Swelbar

 

Bar;
When were these rates agreed to? 2001.

I agree with the premise of a sustainable model. What I stated was that given the fact that we agreed to these rates in a "industry leading" contract and guys flew these jets for less pay that their seniority cold hold (same jet at mainline for more pay in some instances) set a bad precedence of what guys willing to do the same work for.

Express had a lower RASM and we flew it for a lower rate than the same work done at mainline. It was great for the guys that did it, but in the end it proved something.

I agreed with the premise of Rogue's point.

 

Express was a CY96 deal. The "restoration" pretty much lead to replacement with DCI and we handed MCO to SWA and Virgin.

 

Bar, my point is that we were flying the same jet for lower rates.

We did give up MCO, but it was not because Express was not profitable. It was just one more decision.

I have no issue with flying an outsourced jet for market rates, they are two different things entirely.

I know how you are going to tell me I am wrong

 

Thanks for the support, I agree totally.

I filled out my card last week & drove to the Post Office to drop it off.

I just hope enough guys will get motivated & do the same.

 

Did rank and file pilots vote for the people that voted for him?

 

Perhaps there are choices aside from destruction? Enjoy,

Two of the four candidates for ALPA president:

www.votescottstratton.com

www.johnprater2010.com

 

I appreciate your need to change the subject. Had I displayed your level of ignorance, I might have felt a similar need.

Carl