ALPA DISCOURAGES RETIREMENT SAVING – TOUTS AS RATE CUT

Herndon, October 18 -The 44th Board of Director’s meeting of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l closed today. Of note was the presentation of Agenda Item #17 to eliminate the exemption from dues of pilot wage deferrals into 401(k) or Canadian RRSP plans (the exemption currently applies if such a plan is the only pension plan within a given pilot group). The original proposal as approved by the Executive Board and subject to approval by a 2/3 vote of the Board of Directors, was to eliminate the exemption effective January 1, 2014.

Flying in the face of ALPA’s long held beliefs, representatives of several of the largest carriers voted overwhelmingly to stick it to their weakest, lowest compensated brothers; while securing a rate cut for themselves. One representative, speaking under condition of anonymity, stated: “Sure some of these pilots only make $26K per year, so what? When you’re only making 26 grand, how much extra are you really paying? Beside, do you know how much they save by sleeping in their cars in the employee lot? It’s about time these free-loaders pay their fair share! Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go hit the links.”
A spokesman for the bargaining unit noted that ALPA was pleased to do their part to lower these parking lot dwellers’ tax burden by raising their dues. “Yes, it is going to cost them slightly more to contribute to their 401(k), but by eliminating this exemption we are raising the itemized deductions our members enjoy. After all, the name of the game when it comes to 401(k) is tax savings, right?” When asked if he expected any pushback from the members of these smaller carriers, he replied: “What can they do about it? They’re lucky we allow them here in the first place; but no, I don’t expect to hear any complaints from the kiddie table. It’s a moot point anyway. We are going to headline it as a dues rate cut. Nobody reads the past the headline. If they still don’t like it, they can stop contributing to their 401(k), or get themselves a B plan.”

 

DFTT.....!

 

Sounds like someone's got a B plan...

-fighting for the rights of low rent pilots, being held down by the ALPA man since 2012

 

Hmmm, ALPA needs money. I'm just curious how much this meeting cost and all the other non essential meetings all the MECs have. I remember one meeting was at a restaurant, family and friends welcomed, and I saw the food/beverage tab over 4k. The MEC rep hosting the meeting whips out his ALPA credit card and swiped away. Guess ALPA needs more beer money. I always wondered why the Chairman gets more than what they'd make at their respective carrier.

 

Do not look under too many rocks my friend, you might get trolled!
ALPA's #1 job is self preservation. Most hide under cover of being "volunteers", so spending tens of thousands of member's dues on "expenses" needs to be expected.

If ALPA needs to raise dues, so be it. Put out a reasoned explaination and vote on it. Don't put out a PR saying dues are going down, when for the majority, they are going up. Don't lie to me ALPA. I'm not a complete idiot!

 

Theres a very easy way for ALPA to raise dues income.

Manage to actually raise pilot pay across the industry.

Isn't that one of their main purposes for existing? Raise pay and their cut goes up too. Thats how it should be too, make more money for doing a good job as your representation agent. Not continue to suck like they have been and then just increase the dues percentage when they come up short.

 

Don't question CEO Moak...... he is our Moses....

 

Is it wrong for the regional MEC's to cover more of their expenses?

 

First Let's start by everyone paying the same rate.

 

Our political candidates are arguing over a couple percent with respect to our Progressive Tax System. There is no discussion of going to a flat tax or "fair tax".

It looks like what people have written here points to that ALPA has abandoned a "progressive dues" in favor of a "flat dues".

Would this not be comparable to our government handing the 47% that do not pay any federal taxes a minimum tax while reducing rates for top earners?

I am not inviting an argument or trying to get people riled up, but isn't it at least ironic that ALPA and the US Govt. are pulling in completely opposite directions?

Should regional pilots camp out in front of ALPA HQ for months on end claiming to be the 99%?