21st century way of picketing..
 

Ok... just a thought here..

Has anyone ever thought about new ways to get a message across to the public? At PNCL we have "pickets" where we make some local news and get an article here and there with a local paper but I was just thinking about how to kick it up a notch in this age of technological advancement. While I support my MEC and all of there actions I know that the union is only as strong as it's network of pilots.

I was thinking what about a USA today ad- $75K last I heard for a full page ad. What about an add on Yahoo or Google? We have a bilboard up at the airport that runs $2300/mo. Obviously these things would cost some money but between some ALPA help (we do pay dues) and some "investments" from a 1400+ pilot group we should be able to do a pretty good marketing blitz.

Obviously the message would not want to be a "Slander" on any specific person on the management team and we would not want to use any "Fear" tactic by saying "Your FO has little experience"- after all if WE hurt the business WE won't be getting more of profits. The viewpoint that I would see working would be to utilize various ads to tell the public that many of the delays and cancellations are a direct result from improper staffing and that due to management's delays many make below $20K a year and the company is trying to recruit from the bottom rungs because so many other carriers are taking the more qualified candidates. Would you want your doctor to be the one who passed with the lowest grades? Would you want the Lawyer with the least experience to defend you? The general flying public gets its info from papers and online. Also many don't care how much we make and in their view only want the cheapest fare to get from point A-B. I understand that but the delays that cost them time and aggravation goes much further than the $20 they saved on a ticket.


I am just brainstorming here and wondering if anyone else shares the views/ideas. I figure each pilot should be able to spare $100 total and in return get a contract. That $100 could be earned on guarantee during just the first month of a new contract.

In the age of technology I wonder if we could be the first ALPA group to move up to the internet and media age to get a message across.


opinions welcome!:)

Very informative.



atp

ahh... interesting

I'd bet a similar website, with your particular issues, could be a big part of an effective PR campaign if used with print advertisements.

Or do like Freedom and get a huge billboard easily visible by passengers on final at a major airport.

Just curious but how often would the general public visit a website like this. I think that a newspaper add or a tv spot during primetime would be more effective.

In all honesty? Probably not every often...but PNCL pilots don't really need to reach the general public - they need to reach their shareholders.

You have to advertise the website not only to the masses, but more importantly to your specific targeted audience. You can only say so many words in a a 30 second TV spot or a newspaper advertisement...but if you can convey your main points via that medium then get people to hit the website for more information you can start really spreading knowledge.

This is a good website but it's too informative for general public. The idea is to capture the audience in the first 10-15 seconds of the visit. We need something better than this website.
Let's talk about how a pilot starts his/her day in DEN commuting to PHL and gets paid 8 hrs in a 3 day trip. (Example , but there are there).
Let's talk about the hotels that we stay with roaches, with kids yelling and screaming.. Let' s talk about how a 'regular' person gets rest after he/she leaves work and how we struggle waiting for the hotel van, etc.
Let's show them what public thinks we make (driving a 911 Carrera, living in a mansion, and them show them the world of crash padding). Then show them how execs lie through their teeth and get paid $$$$$ even when they get fired.

It can be done..

If you want to get a message out, exploit the viral nature of the modern interweb. Blog your heart out. Post on youtube. Create a facebook group. etc.

Research "Web 2.0" and "Marketing 2.0" to get a better idea.

Take a look at http://www.one.org There's an organization that wants to inform the public of an issue that is important to them. They've done a masterful job of exploiting the web (and celebrity to boot) to spread their message.

ive always had this idea that maybe they should make a sitcom called 'the line' and it would just be about guys/gals at a fictional regional...but then everything would be based around the real world stuff

...pretty much taking the whole law & order 'ripped from todays headlines' mentality without that many murders

general public is dumb when it comes to these issues...so lets dumb it down for them

The web site is just one leg that makes up the table. The MEC already has plans for most of the things you touch on.