Why isn't there a union for the Regionals??

[Speedtape]

Maybe some genius has already thought of this, but why isn't there a Union that represents the regionals?? 110 seats or less, a union that looks out for the little guys??

You could call it RAPA, Regional Airlines Pilots Association. I'm sure someone has already thought of this, so why has it not worked??

just curious??

The Regionals or Small Jet Pilots do have a Union that represents Regionals. It's called ALPA. ALPA represents pilots and does it well, even under adverse conditions with an adversarial, pro management political environment.

The question that should be asked, that under the present pro management political environment, what would have happened if 62,000+ pilots had not been represented by ALPA? Can you say minimum wage, no benefits, no work rules, and no method to recover any of it? No one would be living the dream!

Union members need to quit criticizing the institution, roll up your sleeves, and get to work! There is not a perfect alternative, in fact, there is no alternative! The Union, locally or nationally, is only as strong as the solidarity and support of it's membership. We are the Union!

 

[JoeMerchant]

The Regionals or Small Jet Pilots do have a Union that represents Regionals. It's called ALPA. ALPA represents pilots and does it well, even under adverse conditions with an adversarial, pro management political environment.

Speedtape, if you truly believe that, then why did our Capt. rep. (DU) tell me that he was sad to see the RJDC lawsuit settle? He went on to say that the RJDC lawsuit helped ASA out with DALPA and ALPA.... Pennekamp has confirmed this information...... Why do we need to sue our own union to protect our interests? There is a conflict of interest within ALPA and it has to be resolved or it will tear the union apart......

 

[PCL_128]

Speedtape, if you truly believe that, then why did our Capt. rep. (DU) tell me that he was sad to see the RJDC lawsuit settle? He went on to say that the RJDC lawsuit helped ASA out with DALPA and ALPA.... Pennekamp has confirmed this information......

Everyone's entitled to their opinion, and DU is a good rep that's worked hard for his pilots, but many other regional reps would disagree with his assessment. I've worked with plenty of regional MECs on different things, and outside of CMR and ASA, I've never heard a rep from another regional MEC say anything positive about the RJDC. The consensus is almost universally negative about that group. People simply don't respect litigious groups.

 

[JoeMerchant]

Everyone's entitled to their opinion, and DU is a good rep that's worked hard for his pilots, but many other regional reps would disagree with his assessment. I've worked with plenty of regional MECs on different things, and outside of CMR and ASA, I've never heard a rep from another regional MEC say anything positive about the RJDC. The consensus is almost universally negative about that group. People simply don't respect litigious groups.

.....and most of those other MEC's have fallen for jetsforjobs and flowthrough schemes..... ASA and CMR didn't..... that does set us apart and for that I am thankful.......

You probably agree with jetsforjobs and flowthrough schemes.....Many of us don't want to be bumped down when things start to go bad at the mainline.....

DALPA wanted jetsforjobs at ASA and CMR, but according to multiple sources the RJDC lawsuit helped prevent that..... money well spent.......

 

[PCL_128]

You probably agree with jetsforjobs and flowthrough scheme.

Yep, big supporter of them.

 

[waveflyer]

ALL of the strife is a logical conclusion to NOT having a NATIONAL list in the (supposedly) "deregulated" airline world.

There should be one list at the regional level. And one list at the majors. There should be less protection of the weak- and less promotion of inefficiency. (Southwest has the hardest working AND happiest pilots in the country- ala Ayn Rand Atlas Shrugged- there's a reason for that- every airline contract should attempt to model theirs- that or vote communist in the next election)

Don't know where to begin w/ a national list? Start with a few willing carriers... the increased domicile flexibility alone would be worth it. WHY ARE SO MANY AGAINST THIS IDEA? i don't get it. Let's UNIONIZE, and be divided in every way possible- let management use our seniority system against us- then fight each other b/c it's worked out in the only manner that it could....????????

In the deregulated world- the leapfrogging negotiation technique is not to our advantage. It's too competitive an industry and too commodotized.

 

[JoeMerchant]

Yep, big supporter of them.

......there you have it folks, PCL128 is a big supporter of Jets4Jobs and flowthroughs...... Some of us don't want anything to do with them..... We have been successful at ASA and CMR......RJDC was a big part of this.....

My job isn't furlough protection for a mainline pilot.......The sooner you ALPA cheerleaders understand that, the sooner we can fix
ALPA... Until then you can forget it........

 

[PCL_128]

......there you have it folks, PCL128 is a big supporter of Jets4Jobs and flowthroughs......

I didn't think that would be a surprise to you. I've been pretty open about my support for such agreements, especially flowthroughs. Didn't we just have this debate a few months ago about the NWA/MSA flowthrough?

My job isn't furlough protection for a mainline pilot

I don't expect it to be, and that's not the kind of flowthrough or J4J that I would support. Both pilot groups need to be protected. Seniority rights are sacred. There is a way to balance things in the interest of both groups. Your knee-jerk reaction to such agreements is one of the reasons that regional and mainline MECs have such problems working together.

 

[Gandalf]

You are absolutely right in this very astute economic analysis. The transition to smaller jets is but one piece of a broader array of actions that has irrevocably altered the industry and the flying profession over the past thirty years.

The airline companies have achieved exactly what they wanted out of the changes. Staffing costs have been lowered across the board, and thus seat costs have been marginally lowered, while at the same time the influence of labor unions has been systematically diminished.

They also now have large, cheap regional airline facilities that are being deployed to an ever greater degree on networks that were once the routes of the larger carriers. The nature of these carriers is that they will never allow real substantial professional growth and will never provide a professional salary potential, no matter how much wishful thinking--and talking--is expended on it.

And yes, we could see it coming from the mid-1980s on.

It is too bad too few of us actually really realize what is going on. Somehow, a lot of us have been brainwashed by some slick talking from the managements. They think that it really matters that a management group says nice things about them and seems to care about them.

They forget or more likely don't know that this is business. Its brutal. Its impersonal. The only way to make this a career to be proud of, is to be proactive and get involved.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Joe Merchant.... your behavior pattern is becomming apearant....

You swear to yourself that you will stop posting on FI.... then days later... you start drinking... and you log on..... posting your drivel wherever you can...

Then you wake up in the morning and and lose more respect for yourself....