What has ALPA done for me lately?

[Flopgut]

Does common sense require a lawsuit?

What shocking discovery is gonna change the fact that duly-elected TWA reps voted to waive their rights?

Was it Colonel Mustard in the parlor with a knife?

I suspect the "poor agrieved victims" have bupkis. If they held a smoking gun tying the vote of their reps to some sinister plot executed by Duane Woerth and a squad of his most ardent covert frogmen...they'd have used it to recruit more victims into the fold.

Well...maybe you're right! It might be embarrasingly frivolous, and downright sad. But I have to say, I have not enjoyed watching this once great airline go through it's final death throws for the last 5 years. (anywhere from 5 to 20 years in reality) Now that we're about to throw the last shovel of dirt on them let's give them a little dignity. This is largely a formality. Would expect an airline like this to go away without completeing all termination checklists?

Or, maybe they have an arguement? I'd rather go ahead and find out, I'd like that much consideration if it was my airline.



I dunno. Doesn't matter. Merger Policy has evolved since 1986. It still needs work. I favor more centralized control of the process to prevent panicked reps at the local level from making quick decisions based on the stream of urine that's pouring down both pant legs.

If merger policy wasn't so provisional no one would be tinkling.

I think TWA pilots DO need to be reminded that in some cases of ALPA to ALPA mergers, some airlines have come out a lot worse than they did with AA. Merger policy shouldn't be like that.



My analogy is the guy who tired to commit suicide by jumping on the subway tracks in NYC, then sued the Transit Authority when the brakeman didn't stop in time.

True dat.

This lawsuit won't cost too much money IMHO.

 

[PHXFLYR]

Participation rates are the same now as they've always been in the Association. There hasn't been any drop off, pilots are just lazy and apathetic and always have been.

Maybe thats why we became pilots....



PHXFLYR

 

[PCL_128]

This lawsuit won't cost too much money IMHO.

Believe me, you can't possibly imagine how much something like this costs the Association, and that means you, because all of ALPA's money comes from you and the rest of the members. Think about how many attorneys, Officers, staffers, etc... have to spend time on this. Instead of worrying about bankruptcy reform, pattern bargaining, multiple airlines currently in Section 6, etc..., these people are instead spending their time on a frivelous lawsuit. It's a vast waste of resources, and yes, money. And that doesn't even take into account how much money will be spent on a settlement. The exact settlement that ALPA made with the Ford/Cooksey (ie, RJDC) plaintiffs isn't public knowledge, but it wasn't a small chuck of change, and ALPA isn't exactly awash in funds right now. These guys with their silly lawsuits are wasting your union's resources and money. Instead of your union fighting for you, they're being distracted by their own members fighting against them.

 

[Occam's Razor]

It's time to review that decision for next year and I should probably stop not giving to PAC. I'll get through NOV and then review my contribution decision. Because you are right.

I think he's right too.

I'm still on a payroll deduction to the PAC, even though JP's creative interpretation on the Age 60 survey put me one notch below "Crank Up The Enola Gay!".

I can disagree with ALPA President on one of two issues and still keep the faith. There are too many issues where I need to the PAC to fight on issues where we're 100% in agreement. Case-in-point: Dubya tried TWICE to put foreign airline CRAF flying in the DoD budget. Both times the PAC mobilized and fought it...successfully.

 

[Flopgut]

Case-in-point: Dubya tried TWICE to put foreign airline CRAF flying in the DoD budget. Both times the PAC mobilized and fought it...successfully.

I had no idea this was true, I thought you were joking. I'll start again immediately.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

I had no idea this was true, I thought you were joking. I'll start again immediately.

And the hits keep on coming.... there will always be a flavor of the month scheme in Washington to make our careers...less...

 

[Flopgut]

Well Rez: When you've got a union that will bitchslap it's membership's majority and deny them proper representation, OVER AND OVER, this is what you get! It may be ONE issue, but the majority has told them three times what to do, and they've dont the f-ing opposite.

 

[PCL_128]

Well Rez: When you've got a union that will bitchslap it's membership's majority and deny them proper representation, OVER AND OVER, this is what you get! It may be ONE issue, but the majority has told them three times what to do, and they've dont the f-ing opposite.

I encourage you to tell your reps to support a different candidate for ALPA President in three years when Prater's term is over. I can assure you, he is the driving force behind this. This would not be happening if Duane was still in office.

 

[JoeMerchant]

I encourage you to tell your reps to support a different candidate for ALPA President in three years when Prater's term is over. I can assure you, he is the driving force behind this. This would not be happening if Duane was still in office.

I happen to think Prater is better than Woerth, however are you implying that Prater is ignoring the will of the majority? How it this possible? Doesn't ALPA listen to the majority? ALPA is a democracy according to you and Rez.... why are the majority of ALPA members opposed to what ALPA is doing?

 

[PCL_128]

We don't even know what a majority of ALPA members support. Since only a small minority will get off their asses to vote on a simple age-60 poll, we don't know what a majority of the membership thinks about this. Democracy doesn't work as it's supposed to if the people don't get involved. Prater and the rest of the leadership pretty much have free reign if the membership doesn't get involved and assert their power.