Remember that your union negotiates ONLY with YOUR company. They have nothing to do with who does the flying just How it will be done.
Alpa is a tool. Anyone can purchase that tool the same as any other tool. Who ever buys that tool puts it to use as they see fit. One person uses it to build something, one uses the same to destroy something. So what's the tool for, building or destroying?

Let's also remember that the union is not to blame for a lot of stuff. We are! The MEC only had power from the line pilots. We can sit here and **** and moan about how they messed up but still we are the ones to vote them in and vote on issues the effect us. Don't blame. Get involved and actually make a difference.

 

Excellent post avi8tor. Agree 100%.

 

I think many peoples' gripes with ALPA National is that they don't provide any pushback or guidance as an organization. ALPA will happily take on a pilot groups' dues and in turn tell them that they need to get involved.

While I'll agree with you that ALPA is a tool that is only as useful when it is adequately used, I have to disagree with you that all the responsibility lies within the each individual pilot group.
Where was ALPA National when scope was being farmed out?

Where was there stance on that?

How come they didn't threaten to expel a pilot group that was willing to trade a a short-sited pay raise in exchange overall long-term industry longevity?

I have an assumption as to the answer for the third question, and I believe that is because ALPA National will happily take dues from ANY pilot group without any type of preconditions.
If a pilot group sprouts up tomorrow willing to fly any jet for a fraction of compensation or work rules that other pilots struggle under, will ALPA still happily support this group as their growth comes at the demise of another?
Speaks volumes for unity doesn't it???

 

The travel changes are just the tip of the iceberg of what we are angry about.

One List.

 

What else are you guys ****ed off about and what happened to your travel benefits?

 

Agreed. Unfortunately, XJT and Comair are furloughing because newer and cheaper regionals got all their flying.

 

ALPA regional negotiators do not decide what flying their regional does. They have absolutely NO say in the matter. Even if they wanted to give that flying back to mainline, they could NOT because it's not up to them. They only negotiate pay and work rules on flying that mainline negotiators would not or could not scope in. I don't see ANY conflict whatsoever at all, NOTHING.

 

Having an MEC officer get "hired" by management is a slap in the face to every pilot at xjt. The rest of the MEC is so disconnected from the average line pilot that they applaud this person for going over to management. Our MEC has proven through lack of communication, ignorant communication (calling us unprofessional for sick calls July 2010 and the above mentioned), and the constant barrage of information telling us how they caved to managements every whim that they do not represent the average pilot at XJT.

Heres the problem as I see it. Too many people are apathetic to what is going on. As riled up as you are there are probably 3 pilots to your one who could not care less what happens with our MEC. This is where we need our LEC's to come in. The LEC's are made up of line pilots who should be hearing their pilots opinions. If the LEC's inform and educate their respective pilots about the happenings at the MEC level I think more pilots would get involved. Those pilots then have to support the LEC in making a stand against the MEC.

I think change is coming. I like the reps at my local level and have hope that change will happen. I dont think running away from ALPA is the answer. I think ALPA has a lot to offer but having a weak, disconnected MEC is killing us. We need leadership from a line pilot who wont cheer-lead for management.

I dont want an email telling us they are upset at the loss of pass benefits. I want an email telling us they have stopped negotiating on a JCBA, SLI, and have frozen all talks over the AQP training until pass travel is settled. Not just settled but settled in a way that does not offend every pilot who has bent over backwards to provide a good product to CAL passengers.

Giving us 36 hrs to use our vacation passes in the next two weeks even though those passes dont expire till the end of 2012 is complete and utter BS. Giving us SA3 pass class on our own aircraft is completely useless due to the fact the CAL employees can simply burn one of their vacation passes and bump us. Putting us behind unaccompanied pass riders on CAL equipment while we are trying to get to work is one more poorly thought out rule. When we are traveling to move CAL passengers who is more important? Lastly this "manual fix" to move us from SA4C to SA3 on our own aircraft??? *** Why was this implemented when they couldnt even give us what they were offering. Why rush this poorly thought out, poorly implemented, and moral crushing program? Did our MEC answer this or did they give us an email patting our newest member of management on the back for his "years of service in our union."

 

The LEC is what makes up the MEC. The MEC officers don't even get a vote. They take direction from the local council reps. They are just administrators, the chairman being the spokesperson for the local reps' mandates.

 

What a great idea!! Vote out a union right when a merger is starting.

Why not give them a chance and see what the deal might look like?