Originally Posted by worstpilotever (Post 3628854)

Would you prefer we have no union? is that what you are saying?

You realize that the dues go toward paying ALPA volunteers to do work on your behalf. Safety committee, security committee, hotel committee, etc, etc. ALPA pays them the same rate to do the work they do. So, if our rate goes up, so does the expense of operating the union.

Originally Posted by TFAYD;[url=tel:3628756

3628756[/url]]you do understand how percentage math works - right?

Originally Posted by sdj1986 (Post 3628882)

Where did I say I would prefer no union? I believe I was just asking if the issue had been addressed. Btw, volunteers don't get paid. I believe that is in the definition. ;)

Of course a portion of the union dues go towards paying certain union salaries, and as a result, our dues should increase a certain amount. But a portion of our dues also goes towards paying rent at union HQ, paying the bills, various campaign efforts, etc. These are fixed costs and should not go up. But yes, by all means, lets increase union dues to 69% of our salary!!! Steak and lobster for all the chairs! Why not, anything less would be anti union!!!!

Originally Posted by sdj1986 (Post 3628840)

Ummm yes, do you??? How did you become a professional pilot without understanding how percentages work :D

Imagine a pilot is making $200/hr and paying 1.5% in union dues. He is paying $3/hr to the union. Now assume he gets a 30% raise, and union dues are still 1.5%. he is making $260/hr, and paying $3.90 in union dues. Let me know if you need any more help with 7th grade math :)

And to the people saying this is too small an amount of money to worry about, please feel free to send me a tiny fraction of your paycheck every month.

A typical united NB captain is paying in the ballpark of $4000/year in union dues. Lets say a 30% raise would equate to about $1200/yr extra in dues. A 35 year old would pay $36,000 over the course of a 30 year career. And if that money was invested in a s&p fund returning 7% a year, that comes out to about 77k.

I knew pilots were bad with money, but sheesh you guys are something else!

Originally Posted by GPullR (Post 3628910)

Hey math boy, when United furloughs in the next ten years, and they will, should they raise the rates becasue they don't have as many people paying in?? Or worse, pilots take pay cuts due to some catastrophe should they raise rates above 2%??

Originally Posted by sdj1986 (Post 3628882)

Where did I say I would prefer no union? I believe I was just asking if the issue had been addressed. Btw, volunteers don't get paid. I believe that is in the definition. ;)

Of course a portion of the union dues go towards paying certain union salaries, and as a result, our dues should increase a certain amount. But a portion of our dues also goes towards paying rent at union HQ, paying the bills, various campaign efforts, etc. These are fixed costs and should not go up . But yes, by all means, lets increase union dues to 69% of our salary!!! Steak and lobster for all the chairs! Why not, anything less would be anti union!!!!

Originally Posted by sdj1986 (Post 3628915)

Fair point! But what percentage of the time are the airlines in "downturns"? We have a lot more good/mediocre years than bad years :)

But I still stand by my statement, any discussion of lowering union dues is TREASON and must mean that person is a SCAB!!!!!!

Originally Posted by sdj1986 (Post 3628915)

Fair point! But what percentage of the time are the airlines in "downturns"? We have a lot more good/mediocre years than bad years :)

But I still stand by my statement, any discussion of lowering union dues is TREASON and must mean that person is a SCAB!!!!!!

Originally Posted by sdj1986 (Post 3628915)

Fair point! But what percentage of the time are the airlines in "downturns"? We have a lot more good/mediocre years than bad years :)

But I still stand by my statement, any discussion of lowering union dues is TREASON and must mean that person is a SCAB!!!!!!

Originally Posted by sdj1986 (Post 3628915)

Fair point! But what percentage of the time are the airlines in "downturns"? We have a lot more good/mediocre years than bad years :)

But I still stand by my statement, any discussion of lowering union dues is TREASON and must mean that person is a SCAB!!!!!!