I put in my time on behalf of this pilot group. That's the reason our past MEC's are gone....they left with our money. I guess you are okay with that. Since you seem to know Jayson so well, why don't you ask him those same questions...or are you afraid of the answers? Untill he pays back the 33 hours of trip loss he was given to work at an event he didn't show up for, his credibility and integrity is zero!

 

What did/have you done for this pilot group? "Complaining" isn't doing something. I HAVE asked Jayson those "questions", and I'm satisfied with his answers. I'm sure he'd be happy to PM you with the same if you asked him. Many pilots at CAL sure seem content with lobbing grenades at everyone, but they are no where to be found when it comes time to volunteer to help our pilot group out. I remember asking some of our pilots to help with their time at the Wall Street event (which I attended in the middle of my days off......and had to commute up from FL to do so), only to be told that "mowing their lawn and doing chores" was much more important to them. I'm so tired of hearing lame excuses as to why they can't do anything for the union or our pilots, but they sure find plenty of time and energy to complain. As for Jayson not having any credibility or integrity? I think you're way off base if you think that. I'd venture to say that the amount of FREE time he devoted to the WS event was in EXCESS of $30,000. How much FREE time did you donate? My guess is probably zero, and I'm guessing I'd be right........................

 

If I told you what I've done for this pilot group you wouldn't believe it. Let's just say there is less corruption because of my "work". I wasn't alone in this. Yes, there are many who complain. The reason they complain is because they are not being represented. CALALPA has not been representing this pilot group. They have been representing the company. We seem to have the same people in our union, just changing seats. Hopefully, this election will shake things up. I couldn't make it to either rally. Why? Because I was flying. Is that a good enough excuse? As far as Jayson's debt to our union...When one is paid for a specific event and they don't show up, how can you justify that they should not pay the money back? It's kind of like you paying in advance to have you house painted, and the painter just doesn't show up. It isn't because he's done an enormous amount of "volunteer" paint jobs in the past that he wasn't paid for. You still want your house painted. If the painter doesn't do the job, you would want your money back. Right? This is a real simple situation to solve. If Jayson were to pay the money back, his candidacy would have more meaning. Until he makes restitutuion, he will have this cloud hanging over his head. I'm not saying that Jayson hasn't done a lot for this pilot group. He has. To compare what he has done to what I have done is rediculous. I am a dues paying member. How dare you imply that if a member is unable to take time away from his or her life, that they are not equal with those that have the time. That's a low blow. I have the right to question everything that my union does. If you don't like that, then you need some help. I am done discussing this with you. You need to look at the big picture and stop drinking the kool aid!

 

Try me..............I'm all ears. Our pilots seem to NEVER be represented well. I don't care if the Pope was elected to run our MEC, he wouldn't be holy enough for some of our pilots. Election after election after election has produced the SAME results. So, who is good enough? As far as flying during the rally's...........I am a JUNIOR captain who was able to get the time off. (Amazing how that works, isn't it?) If you're willing, there's usually a way. Excuses are an easy way out. As far as taking time away from a family, etc.,.........well SOMEONE has to do it. Why not you? You don't have to discuss anything with me if you don't like. That's your perrogative. As far as drinking kool aid.............whatever....

 

Never seem to be represented well? ALPA and CALALPA seem to think they are doing great. That's debateable. Since ALPA's been on the property, they have done more to foster ALPA and not the membership that supplies the money for their coffers. Just remember, it's all about dues intake. Why did ALPA negotiate (freeze) the "A" fund away in contract 02 instead of increasing the 8.9% paycut to something higher and saving the "A" fund? It all had to do with dues intake. ALPA wasn't collecting dues on the "A" fund. It was win win for ALPA and Continental. ALPA has their interests squarely on dues, not representation. It tends to trickle down from there. When it comes to "holy enough", there isn't anyone with that good. Just because a certain person is willing to give up time to the union doesn't make them a good person. You seem to think that volunteering personal time is the litmus test for loyality. Well, sorry to say, it isn't. I volunteered my time, and no one even knew it. You see, you don't have to be in the spot light to prove your worth...especially to you. I spent enough time at national debating the issues I was involved in. Please tell me why Jayson supports a move to APA? Ask him why he used to wear an APA pin? That's loyality. Are you questioning me as to my ability to get days off? You know better than to ask that question...answer...PBS! I guess next time I should just call in sick...then appear on a group photo of the pilots attending...duh! I surely hope we end up with reps in EWR that have the ability to represent. God knows we haven't had any yet.

 

Skybo,
Thanks for the comments. I DO agree with most of what you said, contrary to what you may think. I guess I'm just tired of seeing the same "elect and recall" scenario go on and on and on. Why can't we seem to elect members who WANT to do what's best for us? I guess it's like the guys/gals running for president of the USA. They're willing to promise anything to get elected, then they do nothing but feather their own nest and look out for their buddies when they do get in the Whitehouse, meanwhile we all get crapped on. I also find it hard to believe that ALPA's attorney's can never seem to get ahead of managements/the company's attorney's. Why is that? With all the dues money coming in from over 45,000 pilots, you'd think we could afford the best PILOT negotiating attorney's in the country. But we end up with crap.......EVERY TIME. I'm as frustrated as you, but I'm at a loss to understand how we're going to correct this big mess. Changing representatives every few months is yielding us nothing.................so what next?

 

When we voted for ALPA representation, I voted no. An independant union always gets a better contract. This is a proven fact. ALPA was asleep as to what our union was doing with our money. Now the 11 million dollars is gone, with no accountablilty. Our members are lost. ALPA has not provided the leadership to get anything, let alone a good contract. The only thing I can tell you for sure is follow the money. ALPA has done nothing. They have teamed up with management and Boeing. That's all I'm going to say. Sounds strange, doesn't it. I have a friend who told me this. He has proof. I didn't believe it at first. I believe it to be true. Now the question is, can ALPA be fixed? I doubt it. ALPA does not want outside legal help because that would interfere with ALPA's plans. I have friends at USAir. They tell me the union financial situation is 100% better. They are spending 20% of what they use to spend using ALPA. They are also socking away a large war chest. That says a lot. More bang for your buck. What do we have? At last look, we, as a union had less than a million dollars. That's debateable. We have a 1.2 million dollar merger fund. That's it. Not much power there. They (USAir) can and do have outside council. Ones that earn their pay for representing the pilots. I don't know what change will occur with new reps. I just know I can't vote for anyone that is associated with CALFORUMS or P4P. We need to get away from those groups and go with someone totally new. I'm voting for Todd Falstad, Bob Lombardo, and Jeff Nason. These guys will kick axx and take names.

 

Hey JAYSON BARON. When are you going to pay the money back that you owe the union?

The amount is $6414

 

When the union asks me to John Ringel. Maybe you need to talk to Randy Hodge. Oh yeah maybe you need to investigate the former GUM CA Rep Dale Surdicks situation which I am told is precedent setting. Hey is it true you really wear a hat titled Captain on your layovers?

 

Oh, I get it...you a make commitment to working for the pilot group, you have trips bought, you get paid for said commitment, then you walk out on your commitment? Then you whine about all those 16 hours days you worked on your days off? Randy Hodge asked you to write a check. How much of a request do you want? That says a lot about trust and integrity. Now you want to use the trip loss you were paid as payment for future "volunteer" work if you are elected Captain Rep? Get real, Jayson. The gloves just came off! All you had to do is pay the money back. That would have made me happy. Regarding the hat...yes, I do wear a hat that says Captain on it. It was given to me by my kids after I upgraded to Captain on my birthday. You have a problem with that? I wear it occasionally. Do you really think that by trying to belittle me will have any bearing on your predicament? You ran out on your committment to the Houston rally. I've dealt with union reps worse than you. You crossed the line.
I looked into the Dale Surdick situation. He called in sick for a meeting. He had a reason. You, on the other hand, asked the union to be the SPSC chairman. When they said no, You QUIT! That says a lot about your commitment to our union.
Randy Hodge asked you to write a check already. What part of that request did you not understand? Under the LMRDA, I have the right to ask for that money back. I am calling the union today and formally asking them to send you a request for the money you owe.
The gloves are off! By the way, do you take pain killers?