On the road with not a whole bunch of free time to research this: What is required if the members of our union wants to amend a section of the current contract? Is it even possible? Obviously, we make changes by LOA, but I was thinking more in terms of a grassroots movement to have something REMOVED from the current contract language. Specifically, Agency Shop. Thanks in advance for the info.

HD

why would you want to do that?

to help our MEC understand they aren't bulletproof. Look at their record of listening to the membership since agency shop was added..

So you think that by removing agency shop, the MEC will understand they aren't bulletproof by virtue of guys bailing from union membership, just to punish the MEC......Brilliant.

Agency shop is a non event. All the junior blocks had very high membership. Some of the MEC are out of touch because of many reasons, but not agency shop.
The way to fix this is elect a new MEC and stay involved.
Complaining at the bar and on APC is not being involved.

ALPA always listens to money!

It would force them to face the issues!
Being involved is a two way transaction, all I've heard from the MEC is lies about what is happening, and "shut up and color" after the fact.

I can see how some feel like withholding money is the only way to make them listen!

Junior Capts becoming Senior F/Os may want to minimize their money loss!

While I agree with the sentiment, and was never in favor of agency shop, I feel that the horse has left the barn. I'm sure FPA and ALPA I fought long and hard for agency shopand could never get it. All it took was Fred to say no and you couldn't get it done.

Now that they finally got all they wanted out of us on this last contract with the "hidden money" they went ahead and gave it to us. Freebie if you believe BC. No way, but I digress.

Now that the company has seen what the union has been able to do to us under agency shop and the hate and discontent it has brought about, they wouldn't let us get rid of it in a million years. The lost unity that agency shop and the subsequent gaffes by ALPA have given the company such a return on their investment they are laughing all the way to the bank.

I'd love to see agency shop go away, don't think there is any chance the company would allow us to go back without giving up MAJOR concessions.

FJ

Maybe I'm out of touch and if so I'd appreciate somebody educating me. I think agency shop is a GREAT thing and I don't understand why anyone would want to go back to open shop. Under agency shop everyone pays for the administrative costs of executing our contract which means, no freeloaders like we had under open shop.

I'm not seeing the connection between our change in status (open to agency) and the perceived misdeeds of the MEC. Besides, changing the contract simply to "send a signal" is a very bad move. The contract is so much more valuable and important than that.

Not all of us ARE paying under agency shop...Many non-members from before the contract were grandfathered and are still not paying dues.

I guess my point is that I personally feel like I have been heard less since this new contract took place. The mustache mafia just smiles, says "they understand" and then votes however they feel like voting regardless of what the majority wants. As it stands right now, with my money AUTOMATICALLY going to ALPA, they have no reason to stop and really listen, or act in accordance with what the membership wants. If, however, there were consequences to disgrunteld members quitting the union (i.e. a significant loss of income), I think we would have the MEC's full attention. I have not data to support this, but I believe that if agency shop was gone, this union would currently be facing a significant exodus of pilots who are fed up with the way this MEC and ALPA operates.

All of us know that ALPA, as much as it it a union, is also a business. Money talks. Nobody can send enough emails to their Block Rep/LEC chairman that can make the same statement as withholding funds from the union does. I would just like to see the average line pilot at FedEx regain some of his or her voice.

Lets see: 97% voluntary versus 100% forced.

Which is a more unified work force?

We were much more unified before we went to agency shop and the MEC started doing what was "right".

What was "right" was changing the work rules and conditions of employment for the 4500 members, but protecting the work rules and conditions of employment for the 150 or so non members. Who is the union looking out for again?

FJ

FJ