This was posted on our message board.. sounds like Prater is ready to get serious.

May 17: Pilots Gather in D.C. for 2007 Transportation Day of Action

As part of ALPA's “Takin’ It Back” campaign, the union's president, Capt. John Prater, is personally inviting the Association's members and their families and friends to participate in the 2007 Transportation Day of Action on May 17 in Washington, D.C. The main event will take place in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol, with ALPA members gatheromg for a pre-rally event at 10 a.m. Many distinguished speakers, including Prater, are lined up for the noon Rally.

Greedy corporations and a heartless administration initiated an all-out assault on transportation workers after 9/11. Managements and anti-worker politicians used bankruptcy, oil prices, the Iraq War, and even the threat of liquidation as anti-union weapons.

This year, however, pilots and other transportation workers are taking their professions back. The airline industry will see a healthy profit, providing unions an opportunity to renegotiate with their managements now—rejuvenating destroyed pensions, shrunken paychecks, trashed work rules, and shattered lives.

“The only way we can stop the ‘race to the bottom’ and take back what is rightfully ours is to work together, with cooperation and mutual support. Whatever harms one pilot harms the entire profession,” Prater says. “Show your mutual support for the entire transportation industry by attending the 2007 Transportation Workers Day of Action on May 17.”

The IAM organized this event, saying that “transportation workers need a government that will work with unions to develop a pro-worker labor policy, protect and promote U.S. jobs, defend pensions and Social Security, and make affordable and quality health care for all Americans a priority. We demand fairness – Enough Is Enough!”

Prater adds, “I’ve asked our new Strategic Preparedness and Strike Committee (SPSC) to help mobilize all ALPA pilots in the United States and Canada to join forces with us, help us build ALPA’s visibility, and become part of the growing movement to revitalize labor rights in North America. I challenge our members today to rise to the challenge and stand up for our profession and, more importantly, for each other. We are union pilots, and we’re takin’ it back.”

Capt. Mike Donatelli, the SPSC Chairman, says, “We need a sea of pilot uniforms at this rally to send a message to Capitol Hill and the nation that pilots stand strong in unity and determination to be treated professionally and fairly as this industry rebounds. We need YOUR boots on the ground in Washington, D.C., on May 17!”

 

I'm sorry, but this is still the same ol' ALPA BS.

Let's have a meeting where all of you wear your pilot uniform, we'll have it in a place where (maybe) someone important might see us, we'll rant and rave about "Taking it Back", we'll all get excited then go home. NOTHING DONE!

I never ever see any kind of plan of action from ALPA. Maybe they should change their tactics.

INFORM THE PUBLIC (AND have a plan on doing it WITH a timeline)
1) Send PR pieces out to all the major news organizations discussing what is going on in the airline industry (And don't load it with ALPA this and ALPA that)

2) Have campaigns at airports where pilots hand out "Did you know" brochures to passengers. Topics include rest, low time pilots, work performed without being paid (pre-flights, crew briefings, weather review, waiting for van to hotel, etc . . )

3) Organize several REGIONAL MEDIA days to discuss the airline situation. Invite and fly-in influential media personalties. Discuss all the information above. Also talk about Passenger's Bill-of-Rights (scares the airlines), talk about why we are not able to strike, short staffed, touch on ATC problems in the future, point out that their are not enough qualifed pilots. Raising the minimum flight time to ATP standards, etc . .

4) Provide a web-site for the general pulic discussing the topics of airline travel concerning them and concerning the crew. Hiton topics like ground delays, ATC delays, loast baggage, discuss the salaries of new FO's at regionals $19/hr, etc . . . Place ads in USA today inviting Passengers to brouse the website for information. Place links on the sight where passengers can connect to the DOT's air travel complaint/praise page. Place links to each CONGRESS person's decisions (Voting records) on key Airline topics and the amount of money they have received for re-election commitees from airlines.


INFORM CONGRESS
1) Contact every congress man/woman in HOUSE and SENATE to explain what is happening in the industry and what the ramifications can and could be. Accidents, Foreign carriers luring away US pilots, Safety concerns with cost cutting, Bring up REGULATION again, User Fees, Rest Requirements, Passenger Bill of Rights.

2) Provide ALL ALPA members with the names and addresses of all of Congress and develop template discussion pieces that should be sent to them.

3) Continue to pressure Congress for right to strike. Develop ways to increase the speed of the mediation process.



These are just some ideas! ALL need to have a timeline, execution strategy, and a way for measuring performance. (i.e if a consumer Airline website is made . . .one could determine it's success in viewership by the number of hits it receives, number of increased compliments and complaints the DOT receives from passengers . . etc.

 

Ellen, I totally argree with you, ALPA is worthless and I am glad I'm IPA now!

 

ALPA sounds like presidential candidates running for office. It's rhetoric on the same topics. . .

No new Taxes
Save the Environment
More jobs
Better Health Care
Stop Immigration
Better schools/education
Keep terrorists away

WHATEVER . . . . .

 

Ellen, I don't recall seeing your name on the ballot for ALPA President.


Capt Prater has been meeting with pilots and taking their ideas. You can choose to be part of the solution, or you can continue to be part of the problem.




.

 

Like I said, say BS.

"Give us Ideas" They have been saying this for decades. ALPA members pay 2% of their wages for ALPA to come up with ideas too . . . So far they have failed.

I hear rhetoric of being part of the problem or part of the solution. (Many on this board are all about the themselves) . . . Blah blah blah.

Part of the solution is making sh!t happen. EXECUTING. What does ALPA stand for . . . Always Lacking Penetrable Action.

Lately they haven't performed for the pilot. ALPA's structure, systems, and mission need to be overhauled. The problem is that ALPA doesn't have Balls. They sit around and whine and cry and do nothing. Same organization, new leader. Just like the US govt.

I see AA pilot Denny Bresin making stuff happen for their union. Where is ALPA? Shhhhhhhh quiet, they are having another "Town Meeting."

GET SOMETHING DONE!!!! and pilots may listen. PICK ANYTHING, JUST ONE THING and FINISH THE TASK FROM START TO FINISH. And please leave out the "Take It Back Town Meetings." Almost sounds like Hillary Clinton running for president.

 

That seems to describe your position on the subject.





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Far from the Truth, but if that's how you feel, you are entitled to your opinion; just like you are entitled to your opinion about the benefits of what ALPA can do for pilots in today's airline environment.

 

i guess we should just sit around with our thumbs in our as**s huh helen.. jeez you make me sick. someone is actually trying to do something and all you can do is pi ss on the effort... you are worthless, thanks for helping the industry.

 

Hey, now! Ellen isn't worthless. She's provided some fantastic insight on many important issues that airline employees are dealing with these days. I think ALPA, "might" have something going for them this time around but we'll see; it's a great effort nonetheless! Drinks up high for Capt. Prater! However, Ellen has a good point. Given "ALPA's" past reputation for getting things done, they've proven to be worthless time and time again. Like she said, pick a task and finish it to the bitter end instead of half a$$ing it. I truely hope Capt. Praters' effort makes waves on May 17! But if it doesn't, it's just another day facing the same music from the same broken record that's been playing for the past several years.