Shroth

Not necessarily, I think Skywest does ok without a union.

But YES, we are better with one as is most airlines. Otherwise, management can change rules and lifestyle daily.

Without ALPA we would all be staying in the Motel 6...... and not the remodeled ones, that would be too much money.


Also, ALPA Aeromedical is worth all of the dues money for me. They are a great outfit.

Packrat

Nice try, Mr. Hoss, but I'm a current, active MD-80 Captain.

pilot64golfer

How did ALPA furlough you exactly? I'm guessing the 10 year furlough bypass wasn't something you objected to?

Airhoss

And OBVIOUSLY NOT a UAL or EXCON guy.. Point proven once again.

untied

The vast majority of UAL pilots did what they could to help the furloughees.

We voted to pay for their insurance benefits, decided to fly our basic lines or just make guarantee instead of maximizing pay, etc. (I was paid my minimum guarantee during the entire time we had guys on the street).

ALPA did not furlough anybody (think about it…they want your dues money!) ALPA DID try and help the furloughees, but there really isn't much they can do when the company decides to cut jobs.

Our leadership did put some horrible LOA's in the new contract. I personally complained to Heppner about it. He said that they were trying to put furloughs ahead of active pilots for the first time in history, and the LOA's were the price. If we don't furlough again, then nobody gets hurt too bad. I still disagree with the LOA's.

We need a unified pilot group. Slick ties divide us.

socalflyboy

Riddle me this? If a scab wears the pin, still thinks like a scab, acts like a scab vs.a slick tie who supports his union, pays his dues, etc...that's division? YOUR side needs to lighten up on the plastic...I wear it due to the utter fear of getting an ugly glare from a momm U pilot.

OnCenterline

If solidarity is determined by a pin on a tie, we have no chance. Mine has a battle star, and one thing it's taught me is that the pin itself doesn't mean anything. The character of the person in the uniform means everything.

Many, myself included, have legitimate gripes about ALPA (or about unions in general, though I am not in the "in general" category). I don't need a pin to show solidarity toward my co-workers and colleagues. If all you need is to see a pin, you've already been played for a fool.

Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your point of view, due to the RLA, there will never be another strike by a legacy carrier or SWA, so your true solidarity commitments will likely never be tested.

LifeNtheFstLne

The pin is a start guys and is only one piece of the puzzle. A uniform appearance projects an image of professionalism. I can't expect someone to negotiate high compensation to match my image if I'm 100 pounds overweight, need a haircut, wear a backpack in the terminal, and wear velcro black shoes - amongst other things. Imho, we need to be cracking down on that nonsense just as much as slick ties.

*proud ALPA member 13 years and counting
*EWR Professional Standards volunteer

Tailwind6

Well stated. We will only become 'unified' when we take the time to meet our peers and learn who the person wearing the same uniform is, where they came from, and what they believe in. The generalization of who we think our peers are by a tie tack will certainly not lead to a unified group... building relationships, one at a time, over time, just might.

flybynuts

You're a sexy beast! Velcro doesn't belong on shoes or wallets as a grown man.