Outstanding ALPA Leadership for Regionals
12-28-2013, 11:13 AM
#71
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2009
Position: What day is it?
Posts: 963
In the early 80's when the legacies were still running around trying to protect their "post CAB" turf, ALPA was too myopic to see the future. Instead of getting together and forming a "farm team" concept, they fought the "commuters" as pond scum, beneath their dignity. (This from the same guys who got hired in the '60's with 250 hours and a wet Comm/Inst ticket.
The managements saw the bar fight coming and realized it was the perfect storm. They would use the "commuters" to feed the mainline and get those guys the time they wanted. The MEC's and ALPA crapped on those guys and created a built in animus between the soon to be new hire legacy pilots and the old guys. The old guys, protecting their own backs, voted in B scales and other nice things to screw the junior guys.
Another generation of eating your young was born, SERVED UP by ALPA.
Had ALPA stood up and said, "they come on the master list of the legacy they feed, and they get first crack at a job...with flow back if the legacy furloughs..." and the MEC's stood up for the now "regionals" when they were getting hammered on their first contracts...this industry would be vastly stronger and we wouldn't have seen the ongoing cycle of give back, fight back and give bank again.
"Long term pay security? Give us a no strike" "Snap backs? More hours for less pay." On and on. Look at the cycle. It takes about 10 years to almost get back, and then the economy pushes it all away. And ALPA's response? Shoot the regionals. Bruce York said it..."if we didn't have to deal with pilots, ALPA would be a great place." Ask the unionized staff how they get treated in negotiations. The name Lorenzo comes up. Why did the NMB make them post PAGES of a ruling on the doors over the way they violated labor law during negotiations...and illegally FIRED 6 people...including a senior contract administrator?
ALPA has some real issues on their hands. The TWA lawsuit settlement will cost with a B as in Billion plus. Yes, they have insurance to pay it. After that, it will be tough to get insurance. The UAL suits are out there.
And then there is DAL. If the group has the cards to drop...and I'm betting they have them and are just waiting...it's over.
Why? Simple. Because the outcome of the vote won't matter. UAL/CAL is NOT going to be the last legacy there waiting to shut off the lights. They too will run a decert drive and race DAL to the door. Either one leaves? ALPA hasn't got the cashflow to survive. It implodes.
And the legacies that they have all crapped on will suddenly be their new best friends.
They're not stupid. They remember how they got the shaft.
Thanks to ALPA, another generation of our young will be eaten. This time however, they WILL remember. And if a legacy calls, they will go...picket line or not. Because the paper tiger is gone.
Management; who began playing the "long game" post CAB...will have won over ALPA's "short game."
We will all find out that as far as they are concerned, we are not much more than glorified bus drivers who haul passengers, or truckers who haul freight.
"But we'll STRIKE!!" you say. "Go ahead," they will counter. "Those regional guys who flew glass are waiting...and they REMEMBER"
12-28-2013, 11:22 AM
#72
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2009
Position: What day is it?
Posts: 963
Yeah, it was interesting. However the fact that he was totally wrong about how ALPA National "finances" the MECs. He obviously has NEVER been an MEC Secretary/Treasurer. If he had any experience in that job he would have been embarrassed to post what he did.
Considering how far off base he was on that subject, I give him the same level of credibility on the rest of his post.
Anyone who has been on the inside of an MEC during contract negotiations KNOWS all National can do is advise. If the individual MEC refuses to acknowledge and follow National's advice, things can go bad VERY quickly.
National only signs the final product AFTER it has been negotiated, agreed to and ratified. National's signature is really just a formality.
But, let's NEVER stop facts from interfering with people's belief in cockpit stories.
Considering how far off base he was on that subject, I give him the same level of credibility on the rest of his post.
Anyone who has been on the inside of an MEC during contract negotiations KNOWS all National can do is advise. If the individual MEC refuses to acknowledge and follow National's advice, things can go bad VERY quickly.
National only signs the final product AFTER it has been negotiated, agreed to and ratified. National's signature is really just a formality.
But, let's NEVER stop facts from interfering with people's belief in cockpit stories.
An ALPA contract is not valid until it is signed by the President. HE controls the bargaining rights for EACH ALPA carrier.
As to this:
He obviously has NEVER been an MEC Secretary/Treasurer. If he had any experience in that job he would have been embarrassed to post what he did.
Clearly you didn't go to law school and clearly you have NO clue about this one. I'll save you the embarrasment of outlining my background, suffice to say it's a fair assumption on my part that you were in high school when I held my first elected post and was on an MEC.
12-28-2013, 03:36 PM
#76
Banned
Joined APC: Nov 2013
Position: 7th green
Posts: 4,378
12-28-2013, 03:51 PM
#77
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2009
Position: Left seat of a Jet
Posts: 514
One of these days pilots will realize the same rules and laws all other employee groups everywhere in the world already know too well. The only wage an employer is forced to pay is the min wage, nothing more, nothing less! Doesn't matter how many rules/laws the congress or FAA changes!
12-31-2013, 03:44 PM
#80
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jun 2005
Posts: 72
Pilots are their own worst enemy. ALPA has become a corporation. The pilots won't help themselves, ALPA won't help regionals at the expense of majors, and for some of you to argue the good ALPA has done for the bottom feeders is laughable, at best. If this latest TA at XJT doesn't finally get them the boot, I guess they will survive anything.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
