I am glad that pilots showed they were madder than all get out, but what really shows them is a recall effort. Getting Mad at these meetings is still a lot of hot air. Put in to action and recall a rep or two if you are really mad.

On another note, many of the pilots I have talked to that were at that meeting stated to me that they question this admins ability to get them the contract they want. If that is the case, then you must either force your reps to change them out or, recall your reps to get someone that will.

 

Or, we can tell them that if they don't produce, they may get voted out and lose $38 million in dues each year. If that doesn't motivate them, like T O'M didn't do for anyone in PTC, then maybe they should be replaced. A weak TA could cause the wave of change, and neither ALPA nor the company would want that. The company wants things settled early before the next round of consolidation, and that is our leverage. Will ALPA pick up on that? Hopefully.

 

That's been done before. It didn't work. I think sending in a DPA card is a better solution.

 

Sending in a DPA card sends shivers down Dalpa's collective spine, primarily because that $38 million in yearly dues sure can buy a lot of rooms at Ritz Carltons around the country, and it can fund a lot of programs for Regional Airlines that they cannot afford themselves. It might make them think twice, and maybe represent us to the BEST of their abilities.

 

Again, I liken DPA to the Tea Party that helped lead the narrative around the country, resulting in the 2010 election that turned the House over to a Republican majority. It's simply a grass-roots effort that's resulting in change that can't happen with the current political establishment (ALPA) because they're too entrenched in undesirable relationships and rules that protect incumbents.

 

No actually those guys see DPA as a way to divide the group, and blame when the contract does not meet expectations. What really scares them is thinking of those guys uniting and basically taking over the MEC and Admin. Very doable, but the DPA pilots would have to unite to do it.

 

Your last sentence is key. Like the tea party they are angry and have some good talking points. Unlike the tea party they don't have many people willing to stick their necks out. Last time I checked they still had nobody willing to be temporary base reps. Typical pilots. Like to ***** and moan but won't run for office. OUR apathy is our problem, not the name of the union. Look at the former north fas. They have gone from a national union to in house and back to national and whatever they are now. So has FDX. What will make us any different?

 

Nothing and that is why I support efforts within the current system.
Didn't ATN go ALPA because their independent could not get them a contract?

 

That's a good point, Nerd. I suspect that many are unwilling to "stick their necks out" because they're concerned about retribution from Delta. Delta is VERY happy with having ALPA representing our pilot group. I mean, where else could you find a union that would go along with a 42% pay cut, loss of pension, and outsourcing of thousands of jobs... and then go forward for years acting like it's all okay and we don't expect to get a lot of it back? I can certainly see where Delta management would not want ANYTHING to get in the way of that SWEET DEAL! And their actions with regards to DPA certainly bear that out.

I know of instances where guys have been blackballed from being line check airmen solely because they were vocal about wanting ALPA to advocate restoration. It's not much of a stretch to imagine an extra difficult recurrent training session or a line check with "extra special" attention. Many may not be willing to risk that sort of thing.

And then there's the whole apathy thing. You can't even get more than about 30% to vote in an LEC election. It's not surprising that a small number of individuals have stepped up to volunteer for a brand new, unestablished DPA any more than it's not surprising that a relatively small number of people step up to volunteer for a very well established ALPA.

 

[QUOTE=NERD;1071107]Your last sentence is key. Like the tea party they are angry and have some good talking points. Unlike the tea party they don't have many people willing to stick their necks out. Last time I checked they still had nobody willing to be temporary base reps. Typical pilots. Like to ***** and moan but won't run for office. OUR apathy is our problem, not the name of the union. Look at the former north fas. They have gone from a national union to in house and back to national and whatever they are now. So has FDX. What will make us any different?

They don't have anyone welling to donate money either. That I find very strange. I would think a 1000 dollar donation from each Captain and a 500 dollar donation from each copilot who wants DPA would be minimal. Instead its like 11 bucks per pilot.