Originally Posted by NuthnFlashy

Long A$$ post ... but this is the actual response I got to my letter ..


"Thank you for contacting me regarding the FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011, H.R. 658. I appreciate the opportunity to respond as your feedback helps me better represent you in Congress.

On April 1st, 2011, the FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011 was passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 223-196, which included my vote in support of the legislaton. The FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011 is now pending approval in the Senate. H.R. 658 will reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations and programs for four years, including the remainder of FY2011 through FY 2014. This legislation will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our aviation programs while ensuring that the U.S. aviation industry remains competitive in the global marketplace and continues to be the safest system in the world. The bill also reforms and streamlines aviation programs, consolidates facilities, increases responsible private sector participation in aviation facility operations, and strengthens oversight of the NextGen air traffic control modernization program.

In addition, the bill makes a number of policy changes, including a repeal of a National Mediation Board (NMB) rule allowing airline employees to unionize without a majority vote. The bill will phase out funding for Essential Air Service (EAS) program and reduce overall spending relative to the current pending baseline by $4 billion. The bill also reduces spending by permitting greater use of contractors in the air traffic control system, potentially saving $400 million through FY 2014. H.R. 658 does not raise aviation fuel taxes or passenger facility charges above current law levels. In total, this bill includes $47.6 billion in discretionary spending authority."

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me on this matter.

Originally Posted by jungle

There has certainly been much play acting in this Kabuki, however the real outcome has yet to be revealed.

In the last three years, what is it you have gained?

Do you think you will gain anything of substance now?

Your faith in politicos of any stripe to do the right thing is only a source of amusement.

Lip service is cheap, and that is likely all you will ever get.

Originally Posted by jsled

Do you mean gains in addition to the FT/DT rules and NMB union vote rule changes that I mentioned in my post? Well, yes and yes. Have you not noticed the 5 or 6 major contracts that have been signed in the last 3 years? Many of which had been stuck in the endless mediation purgatory of the former administration's NMB. Those pilots have definetly seen gains.

Originally Posted by jungle

There has been a lot of talk, but is this really an effective answer to any problem? Lots of contracts got signed prior to three years ago too.

Some of us have a hard time seperating fantasy from reality, much of it has to do with expectations based on false beliefs.

Originally Posted by jsled

Yeah, people like Lee Moak and John Prater. Your beliefs are fantasy. You think politics don't matter, and that is just folly. Even my diehard Republican friends will admit the labor bias of the Democratic Party. How can you not see it? Listen to Rush or any other "conservative" host talk about unions. Look at whats going on in Wisconsin, in Indiana. What about Ronnie "fire them all" Reagan? Or look at this recent House bill. It is pretty compelling. Live in your fantasy land if you wish. I will live in the real world.

Originally Posted by jungle

Is it possible you are so fixated on unions that you ignore other facets?

Let us say for instance that your union was able to negotiate a 5% raise for you, how much would that matter if inflation caused by poor monetary policy and high taxes immediately neutered the raise.

Big picture, none of them have done us any favors. Over time unions have diminished under both sides, that is the real result.
Your devotion is touching though, touching but useless.

The results are easy to catalog:Union Membership: Overall (1948-2004) - Working Life))

Don't feel bad, the illusion of control is very important to many of us.

Originally Posted by jsled

Yea, yea. You pull out that chart like a badge. But...not in this industry. In this industry, we are still almost 50% union. I am not going to dig out the chart that proves it, as I already showed you once. You can look it up if your interested. I am tired of wasting my time. I see your right wing monetary and taxation posts. Your politics obviously cloud your judgement. BTW, I hope you have been in stocks since the March 2009 bottom. I have made a killing!

Originally Posted by jsled

Sorry Charlie. Their actions speak louder than your words. The President has appointed a former union chief to head the FAA, and now we have new ft/dt regs due out that the ATA is FURIOUS about. As evidenced by the numberous REPUBLICAN attemps to stop it or water it down. The President also appointed a former union chief to the NMB, and viola...we have a rule change that allows a simple majority vote under the RLA for unionization. Man I sure loved watching FOX Business after that change. After 75 years, it is changed... all because we have a democrat in the White House. This change has been challenged by REPUBLICANS, first in the Senate, and now in the House. You can say all you want, but the facts speak for themselves.

The Sled