ALPA's strategy
08-03-2013, 08:47 PM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: CA
Posts: 1,207
I think ALPA's main focus has become nothing more than staying in business. There are too many diametrically opposed interests to have a coherent focus that suits ALL members. It seems that doing or saying anything to appease certain member groups is acceptable as long as each group is satisfied enough to not change representation.
This observation admittedly comes from a former member, but I was a dues paying member and volunteer for close to a decade. I have much more faith that my representational needs are being met by an in house union. And, my current collective bargaining group does it for half the price that ALPA is charging most members.
This observation admittedly comes from a former member, but I was a dues paying member and volunteer for close to a decade. I have much more faith that my representational needs are being met by an in house union. And, my current collective bargaining group does it for half the price that ALPA is charging most members.
08-04-2013, 04:38 AM
#14
The Brown Dot +1
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jun 2009
Position: 777B
Posts: 7,775
A mission statement is not a strategy. It's a guide. We are given calls to action, so we know Alpa is scanning for threats. We know Alpa is somewhat successful in guiding legislation. However, I have to ask myself if that is organizational or is there just some expertise at Alpa right now.
What is ALPAs overarching plan for the future of the piloting profession. It isn't pension protection/pilot career protection, it isn't RLA reform for better bargaining leverage, it isn't proactive FAR reform, it isn't to be a pilot clearinghouse, it isn't standardized operation by fleet, it isn't unity building, etc.
I see reaction and inaction and crisis du jour. Do we just pay them dues because we are going to pay someone dues?
Where are they taking us? Is it somewhere we want to go?
I don't know.
What is ALPAs overarching plan for the future of the piloting profession. It isn't pension protection/pilot career protection, it isn't RLA reform for better bargaining leverage, it isn't proactive FAR reform, it isn't to be a pilot clearinghouse, it isn't standardized operation by fleet, it isn't unity building, etc.
I see reaction and inaction and crisis du jour. Do we just pay them dues because we are going to pay someone dues?
Where are they taking us? Is it somewhere we want to go?
I don't know.
08-04-2013, 05:01 AM
#15
veut gagner à la loterie
Joined APC: Apr 2008
Position: Light Chop
Posts: 23,286
Originally Posted by shoelu
I think ALPA's main focus has become nothing more than staying in business. There are too many diametrically opposed interests to have a coherent focus that suits ALL members. It seems that doing or saying anything to appease certain member groups is acceptable as long as each group is satisfied enough to not change representation.
This observation admittedly comes from a former member, but I was a dues paying member and volunteer for close to a decade. I have much more faith that my representational needs are being met by an in house union. And, my current collective bargaining group does it for half the price that ALPA is charging most members.
This observation admittedly comes from a former member, but I was a dues paying member and volunteer for close to a decade. I have much more faith that my representational needs are being met by an in house union. And, my current collective bargaining group does it for half the price that ALPA is charging most members.
I agree with shoe.
08-04-2013, 05:39 AM
#16
Runs with scissors
Joined APC: Dec 2009
Position: Going to hell in a bucket, but enjoying the ride .
Posts: 7,728
Lately, the stuff I see from ALPA National is focused on arm twisting in DC over the Open Skies talks, as it should be, in my mind. We (at APC) are looking inside, at each other, when the long term threat to all of us (in the USA) is coming from outside, across the ocean.
Think Cruise Ship Industry. Now where do you want ALPA to focus our money? On beating each other up, or saving our industry from foreign entry? Because that's where this industry is going, long term. Who else is going to stop the DC Politicians from selling us out? SWAPA? APA?
Read this, and then check out the other links, you will see the threats from outside the USA are real:
http://pilotpartisan.com/2013/06/18/...egin-july-8th/
Small excerpt:
The EU has pushed for inclusion of air traffic rights as they constantly seek to open up our domestic market to cabotage operations and increase the level of allowable foreign ownership and control of U.S. airlines. Such changes to our laws are not good for pilots or our carriers.
Just ask the Quatas guys how that Emirates Code Share is working out for them...
Think Cruise Ship Industry. Now where do you want ALPA to focus our money? On beating each other up, or saving our industry from foreign entry? Because that's where this industry is going, long term. Who else is going to stop the DC Politicians from selling us out? SWAPA? APA?
Read this, and then check out the other links, you will see the threats from outside the USA are real:
http://pilotpartisan.com/2013/06/18/...egin-july-8th/
Small excerpt:
The EU has pushed for inclusion of air traffic rights as they constantly seek to open up our domestic market to cabotage operations and increase the level of allowable foreign ownership and control of U.S. airlines. Such changes to our laws are not good for pilots or our carriers.
Just ask the Quatas guys how that Emirates Code Share is working out for them...
Last edited by Timbo; 08-04-2013 at 06:11 AM.
08-04-2013, 07:00 AM
#17
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2010
Position: Baja Vermont
Posts: 5,177
To Timbo's point, EK has a large ad in today's NY Times advertising NY to Milan service this fall. That's the opening shot, if Open Skies with the EU treaty, watch out--EK, QR, the lot will try to flood the NAT market, just like EK did to QF. The domestic market probably isn't worth the dogfight for cabotage, but if the likes of EK can come dominate international travel, we're just feeders.
GF
GF
08-04-2013, 07:03 AM
#18
Back on TDY
Joined APC: Apr 2008
Position: 747-400 Captain
Posts: 12,487
Originally Posted by Timbo
Lately, the stuff I see from ALPA National is focused on arm twisting in DC over the Open Skies talks, as it should be, in my mind. We (at APC) are looking inside, at each other, when the long term threat to all of us (in the USA) is coming from outside, across the ocean.
Originally Posted by Timbo
Think Cruise Ship Industry. Now where do you want ALPA to focus our money? On beating each other up, or saving our industry from foreign entry? Because that's where this industry is going, long term. Who else is going to stop the DC Politicians from selling us out? SWAPA? APA?
Carl
08-04-2013, 07:53 AM
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2008
Position: Kickin’ Back
Posts: 6,971
Originally Posted by scambo1
Please, not an Alpa bashing thread. (Although I enjoy that as much as the next guy)
I am going to have to assume that ALPA has a strategy but I have a difficult time getting my head around what that is. When you strategically plan, you start with a desired end state...the optimum that you want for the organization. Strategy differs from tactics, in that tactics are short term and support the strategy.
Despite the conflicts of interest and the failures, I am interested in hearing what some of the deeper thinkers have concluded ALPAs strategy might be.
I am going to have to assume that ALPA has a strategy but I have a difficult time getting my head around what that is. When you strategically plan, you start with a desired end state...the optimum that you want for the organization. Strategy differs from tactics, in that tactics are short term and support the strategy.
Despite the conflicts of interest and the failures, I am interested in hearing what some of the deeper thinkers have concluded ALPAs strategy might be.
I think what you are really asking is what are ALPA's overall goals? A strategy is a general plan to achieve those goals. Tactics are the specific plans used to accomplish the strategy.
Strategies/tactics can change but the overall goals should remain.
That being said.........................................I have no clue!!!
Denny
08-04-2013, 08:49 AM
#20
Can't abide NAI
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: Douglas Aerospace post production Flight Test & Work Around Engineering bulletin dissembler
Posts: 11,990
ALPA's Mission
The mission of the Air Line Pilots Association is to promote and champion all aspects of aviation safety throughout all segments of the aviation community; to represent, in both specific and general respects, the collective interests of all pilots in commercial aviation; to assist in collective bargaining activities on behalf of all pilots represented by the Association; to promote the health and welfare of the members of the Association before all governmental agencies; to be a strong, forceful advocate of the airline piloting profession, through all forms of media, and with the public at large; and to be the ultimate guardian and defender of the rights and privileges of the professional pilots who are members of the Association. —ALPA Board of Directors, October 1992
ALPA's Vision
The Air Line Pilots Association, International, will spare no effort to aggressively fight for the rights and needs of airline pilots. We will work together—across all segments and corporate brands—to restore our proud profession. We are committed to the principle that our profession is best served by unifying all pilots within our union and organizing all pilots within our profession.
ALPA pilots must embody the values of solidarity, integrity, and tenacity as we work to accomplish the goals of the union. Leaders commit to identifying and aggressively addressing the concerns, aspirations, and ideas of our members, and leaders will act decisively to move the pilots’ agenda forward.
When one ALPA pilot has a problem, all ALPA pilots have a problem.
The mission of the Air Line Pilots Association is to promote and champion all aspects of aviation safety throughout all segments of the aviation community; to represent, in both specific and general respects, the collective interests of all pilots in commercial aviation; to assist in collective bargaining activities on behalf of all pilots represented by the Association; to promote the health and welfare of the members of the Association before all governmental agencies; to be a strong, forceful advocate of the airline piloting profession, through all forms of media, and with the public at large; and to be the ultimate guardian and defender of the rights and privileges of the professional pilots who are members of the Association. —ALPA Board of Directors, October 1992
ALPA's Vision
The Air Line Pilots Association, International, will spare no effort to aggressively fight for the rights and needs of airline pilots. We will work together—across all segments and corporate brands—to restore our proud profession. We are committed to the principle that our profession is best served by unifying all pilots within our union and organizing all pilots within our profession.
ALPA pilots must embody the values of solidarity, integrity, and tenacity as we work to accomplish the goals of the union. Leaders commit to identifying and aggressively addressing the concerns, aspirations, and ideas of our members, and leaders will act decisively to move the pilots’ agenda forward.
When one ALPA pilot has a problem, all ALPA pilots have a problem.
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