Whats A Union??

[yahooair]

As crazy as it might seem...most pilots think they know what a union is. I have had the chance to chat with some pilots (either for or against) and maybe if i am lucky...ill get someone who has an idea what a union really is.
Its amazing what people will tell you...
lets not give each other opinions here...just facts.

 

[CopilotDoug]

Smokin' Thread...

Found this under Labor Union...

Main Entry: labor union
Function: noun
: a labor organization usually consisting of workers of the same trade that is formed for the purpose of advancing its members' interests (as through collective bargaining) in respect to wages, benefits, and working conditions.

Someone should mail the definition to Prater.

 

[Ponchus pilot]

Found this under Labor Union...

Main Entry: labor union
Function: noun
: a labor organization usually consisting of workers of the same trade that is formed for the purpose of advancing its members' interests (as through collective bargaining) in respect to wages, benefits, and working conditions.

Someone should mail the definition to Prater.

Prater is an outstanding guy. He definitely doesnt need you to teach him how a union works. If you think you can do a better job run for office.

 

[CopilotDoug]

Prater is an outstanding guy. He definitely doesnt need you to teach him how a union works. If you think you can do a better job run for office.

Sir, I feel it necessary to bring to your attention the following: Your post has 2 Opinions and 1 Suggestion. Please read the original post; only facts. If you could comply with that next time, that would be sooooper! Mmmmmm-Kay? Thanks. Buh-Bye.

 

[CoAlpha]

Whats A Union??

2%

next question.

 

[belchfire]

Found this under Labor Union...

Main Entry: labor union
Function: noun
: a labor organization usually consisting of workers of the same trade that is formed for the purpose of advancing its members' interests (as through collective bargaining) in respect to wages, benefits, and working conditions.

Someone should mail the definition to Prater.

That was the original definition, and was pretty well accurate in the early days.

A better definition for the current situation follows...

: a labor organization usually consisting of overpaid executives, high priced lawers that are not competent enough to obtain simular jobs in big businesses, volunteers who get blamed for everything and workers of the same trade who give up a percentage of their paycheck to support weekend binges of golf, drinking and general debauchery for the paid employees of the union and upper management of the company that they work for. Collective bargaining is conducted to the benifit of lawers, union executives and the company. Often associated with organized crime syndicates.

 

[blueraider]

A large organization that you choose to give your money but, thats not important right now, they can help you with anything; all together.

 

[rogerwilcoout]

I'll say it. All unions suck !

 

[John Pennekamp]

A true union has a national pay scale, a national contract, and national seniority. It also has high barriers to entry (ask any "journeyman" plumber).

There are no true unions in aviation in this country. Teamsters Local 747 is the closest thing we have to a real union for pilots. I say that, because even though 747 is the most anemic branch of the IBT, they still know how to fight and win, and have the backing of hundreds of thousands of members nationwide. When Hoffa speaks, people listen.

ALPA is not a union, by design. It's an ASSOCIATION of independent MECs. This setup was intentional, because the founders wanted each group to have flexibility, and also because unions at the time had a huge stigma and they wanted to appear above that. This setup makes ALPA weak, because there is no TRUE national agenda. This is best evidenced by the Age 60 reversal. ALPA's national policy changes with the wind, depending on which group (who pays the most dues, and thus has the most power) speaks the loudest.

The result is infighting, backbiting, and a general lack of unity you don't see in trade unions.

 

[DX Rick]

Isn't it a vegetable that makes your eyes water, while cutting it?

 

[John Pennekamp]

Isn't it a vegetable that makes your eyes water, while cutting it?

lame...

 

[hoover]

It's all well and good that ALPA works for improvements in wages, benefits, and working conditions. It is even better that the national organization works to advance safety. I think their mistakes have been where they tried to control the business side of the airlines.

Take for example the scope clauses of the major airlines. Most major carriers, if not all, have clauses in their contracts that tie the amount of regional partner flying with mainline flying. "ABC regional shall only have X amount of RJs for every Y amount of mainline jets blah blah blah".

Now before any of you anti-RJ guys get all fired up, this is just an example. Look through your own contract and I am sure you can find some section where ALPA is trying to control how the company does business.

The problem is they only have influence over 1/2 of the equation. You may be able control what the business does, but you can't control what the customer does. Any business that can't respond to customer needs is going to find itself in a world of trouble very quickly.

ALPA needs to stick to wages, working conditons and safety, and stay out of the management side of it. in my opinion.

 

[belchfire]

Isn't it a vegetable that makes your eyes water, while cutting it?

Boooohahahaha...I had an Ecomonics Prof that used hamburgers and coffee to demonstrate diminishing returns. First hambrger is really tasty so you get another one and so on.

He was from Vietnam and a little tough to understand sometimes-like when he said Macro or Micro economics it always sounded the same-"mecroekonomics or mecroekonomics".

When we got to the lectures on Labor Unions we thought he had dropped the hamburgers and coffee in favor of "Liver-onions"!!!

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

What a union... (let's talk about the elephant in the room-ALPA) is.... a large group of members who think ALPA is a personal servant to thier individual wishes of how their career should be...

Idealistically, an Air Line Pilot union would be 85% of its members actively involved functioning as custodians of the profession. It is the leaderships responsbility in part to create this dynamic or paradigm. In addition though, it is the membership responsibility as well..... The block that is stopping the membership is ......free will.

 

[PBRstreetgang]

2%

next question.

I thought you were gonna change your meds and stop takin' it in the a$$!
PBR
Happy yet?

 

[Soverytired]

2%

next question.

2 %


(Pre-tax)

 

[DX Rick]

lame...

Come on John, don't take life or this industry too seriously. If you have problems with laughing, give me a call. I will send you the pictures and videos of your wife and I in bed together. She's quite photogenic.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Come on John, don't take life or this industry too seriously. If you have problems with laughing, give me a call. I will send you the pictures and videos of your wife and I in bed together. She's quite photogenic.

Hey wait a min....

She told me I was the only one besides John..... that three timing whore!! (or more???) :beer:

 

[CopilotDoug]

Hey wait a min....

She told me I was the only one besides John..... that three timing whore!! (or more???) :beer:

Good Stuff!

 

[merlindrvr88]

Haha

Good Stuff!

Good stuff!!! That is great stuff.
I love the definition of a union, and how ALPO doesn't meet it. Here is a definition.... Union---For the worker, by the worker.

ALPO---For the union, by the union rep.

ALPO sucks, and bring it on ALPO supporters!!!