Fins Up

Correction regarding lobbying: As others have pointed out, the PACs do the lobbying. Not taken out of your dues.

130drvr

At my last company, when a union was brought on property, this was management's playbook/tactics to the letter. Don't buy it, while unions have their issues for sure, there were countless times guys got their jobs back after being fired for bogus reasons all due to having a union. I agree unions have their issues, but look out in the industry how many airlines that have been around for a while that don't have unions. Eventually mgt will give you a reason to vote one on property. It will suck negotiating over stuff you already possess/defending them, but in the long run, any union is better than not having one.

Mesabah

Management at Delta has enough influence to push its pilots into voting in the DPA, and the DPA is awful. Really, that tells you all you need to know.

Purple Drank

*** are you talking about? Delta management wants to keep ALPA. The cooperation is too great to alienate.

Once again, you're clueless about issues at Delta (where you don't and never will work).

sailingfun

ALPA PAC money goes into many areas involving lobbying that impact every pilot. They win some and lose some issues but we would lose them all otherwise. A few examples include KCM, restoration of JS after 911, split sample drug tests, maintaining current medical standards and cabotage.

Mesabah

Purple, that's exactly what my post means.
I know you're mad because I insulted your precious DPA, and they are bad, but ALPA is worse. However, the DPA is fixable, ALPA is not fixable.

Fly4hire

Good luck JB pilots. I've worked for 3 different MEC's now over the course of a career. I'm under no illusion of "ALPA of the Imacculate Conception", and neither should you be - Like any democratic organization it's only as good as the people who volunteer to run.

Having seen both union and non-union shops it's a no-brainer. ALPA is the best game in town. Don't let the haters and malcontent's turn you off to its benefits.

Borrowing from Winston Churchill, it's the worse form of union, except every other union, or no union.

I hope you guys make the right call. You won't regret it. The only ones who will are management because they won't be able to have thier way whenever they want.

76drvr

I agree with Fly4hire, having a union on your property in this business is a no-brainer and ALPA, while only as good as the pilots who volunteer, is the best game in town.

With ALPA you have access to unmatched national resources from day one which include, a representation department, legal, professional negotiators, economic and financial analysis, benefit specialist, communications and a central air safety committee structure that is the largest non governmental safety organization in the world. You get that just for being members on the first day. You'll have time proven C&BLs and Admin Manual to help guide your own MEC and you'll be able to formulate your own local policy manual that's tailored towards your pilot group. You'll establish your own goals and strategic plan, you'll negotiate your own contracts and ratify your own agreements. ALPA will provide you the resources to get it done.

Justdoinmyjob

Yeah, no. Not only is DPA a non starter, it's turned into a fringe group.

Purple Drank

agree. the in-house union brand at Delta is tarnished for years to come.

good luck to jetblue pilots! ALPA isn't great, or even good. But it's the least of all evils.