ASA Furlough Fund

[probablecause]

Thanks to those 38 people who decided to vote yes. It passed. I am happy to be helping out.

PC

 

[SLUF4]

surprised so few voted

 

[USCtrojan]

I agree. I voted Yes, but really sad to see such a pathetic turnout.

Trojan

 

[Salukipilot4590]

Glad it passed but jeebus thats a low turn-out!

 

[TOOL CRIB]

38 was the difference between for and against. Totals were 198 FOR, 160 AGAINST. 354 total out of 1578 eligible.

 

[JumpersAway]

This is about as active a turnout as you can really expect to see for such a vote. Most pilots don't participate in their union, meaning they don't bother to pick up the phone. It's sad, but true.

I'm really glad this passed and we're taking care of our own. It's good to see a tangible measure of our character. I'm extremely proud to be a part of this pilot group.

 

[mtsupilot376]

let the taxes begin!

 

[JumpersAway]

let the taxes begin!

I notice you're an FO- could just as easily have been your tail out on furlough. Everyone is going to hit a hard spot in this career- Karma is a powerful entity.

Personally, I'm paying the cash with a smile. Hope to get the guys back on property soon, but until we do, this is going to have to suffice.

 

[Jorgy50]

Voted Yes. I am proud to help out my brothers and sisters in this tough time in their lives. For the ones who voted No, that's fine. It's your perogative and right to decline your assistance. However, I put myself in their shoes and felt it was the right thing to do for those with families and dependants.

 

[Flybywire44]

I actually tried to vote, but could not figure it out. I got a number and a pin, but that's as far as I got.

 

[buscap]

I voted YES, but I gotta say the low turnout was most likely due to the voting process being a pain in the arse.

That's pathetic and if it were a more important, or expensive, issue perhaps folks would make the effort to figure out how to vote.

Sometimes ignorance is a collective advantage. But let us not forget that collective ignorance has also proven itself to be a curse over the years.

In this case I believe the historic hand of ignorance has moved the tillar away from the rocks of uncharitable political nose thumbing.

 

[OPECJet]

Classy move by the ASA pilot group.

Agreed that Ballotpoint is a pain in the rump.

 

[Snapperhead]

I voted yes as well. Great job to those that voted, even though it was a pathetic turnout.

 

[mtsupilot376]

I am willing to be that we could have raised more money and had a better participation for the furloughed pilot's fund if we had set up a private account (not associated with ALPO) for donations. Forcing people to pay is only going to result in people reluctantly paying the minimum, not opening their wallets to pay more.
Secondly, I am saving money in an interest bearing account for such an event. These people should have known that furlough was a possibility and saved accordingly rather than expect a bailout forced by the the union. But given the state of the economy, I guess saving money is sooo last century, it's all about the bailouts baby! So sad.

 

[spudskier]

Secondly, I am saving money in an interest bearing account for such an event. These people should have known that furlough was a possibility and saved accordingly rather than expect a bailout forced by the the union. But given the state of the economy, I guess saving money is sooo last century, it's all about the bailouts baby! So sad.

I'm not one of the furloughees, but just a random guess... with the money these guys make (1st year FO pay) my intuition tells me it's not really POSSIBLE to save money when you have to spend it all just to make rent and eat. Dismount please.

 

[JustaNumber]

Well said, Mtsupilot. I am going to throw myself to the FI wolves in the hope of changing at least one person's mind. I did not vote yes.

Let me first say that I am happy to donate my money to this group. But the key words there are I and my money. For the majority to force the minority (under threat of being fired) to relinquish their money is nothing short of theft. This is one of the big problems I have with socialism. Only with government sanctioned socialism, it's actually armed robbery. (Don't believe me? Try not paying your inevitably higher taxes associated with the latest congressional spending spree. Sooner or later, someone will show up on your doorstep with a gun).

We as Americans need to stand up for the founding fathers' principles of individual freedom, not for the collective's principles of mob plunder. Okay, fire away.

 

[maxcackel]

I voted yes because it is the right thing to do and 20 bucks a month is not going to kill me but. I understand both sides of it, they should have expected it and saved but can't on first year pay but almost every new fo I flew with had Bose, PNT bags, leather jackets and Iphones. I started to think the Iphone was company newhire issue. I don't have one because I could not justify the cost but a first year FO can? And now I get to help pay for theirs.

 

[79%N1]

That last post was right on the money. Most FO's I flew with had nicer equipment than me. (Headsets, etc..)

That said, my only problem with this "bill" was that it was to be used to pay the Cobra insurance of the furloughees. I have to wonder how many of the 80 are not going to get insurance with a new job they get while furloughed (or through a spouses plan, etc) How are we going to keep track of who needs Cobra coverage and who doesn't, etc?

I have no problem giving $20-40 bucks a month to help, but who is keeping track, and for how long. What if a guy needs Cobra for a month or two, and then gets insurance some other way? How are we keeping track? Does the assessment amount get lowered? NOBODY had ANY answers!

PS....Ballotpoint voting IS a pain in the rear! I had to spend well over an hour getting a password and jumping through all the hoops to vote. That may sound trivial, but if all you had to do was click a tab on the ALPA web-site, and it was all right there then a lot more people would take a couple minutes to vote.

 

[E120ASA]

I thinks that Obamoes new bill will take care of it now.

 

[centralpilot]

I thinks that Obamoes new bill will take care of it now.

Part of it, but not all of it. Still, it should lower the amount the pilot group needs to contribute.

 

[Oakum_Boy]

What are they gonna do if I don't pay? Seems like everyone is out for my money these days. Somethin for nothin. THe new America. If I were a furloughee, I wouldn't expect anyone to take care of me, least of all some underpaid regional pilots.

 

[SLUF4]

I'm as anti Obama/socialism as they come. If this were about helping out some lazy do nothings I would have voted no, but this is about helping our fellow co-WORKERS.

 

[COOPERVANE]

Voted yes, but was VERY dissapointed in our union communications. Wish we could've handled this with a private account.
Lots of speculation about who/how much/how long/how to verify/unlimited extension?

1500 pilots shouldn't have to make 1500 phone calls to get the required info. This was mismanaged

But, again, glad it passed

 

[Brasilia Pup]

Voted no. Already been furloughed before, no one helped me out. I'm sure ALPO has enough $$$ in their treasure chests to pay for the furloughees' COBRA benefits. If this was Delta, it would have been paid for by ALPO. I just hope this increase in our ALPO dues is TAX-Deductible!!! 5 1/2 years in negotiations for a new 3-year contract?! Way to go, ALPO!

 

[Ineedabrew]

Something is just not right

I have a question

Why were the furloughed allowed to vote. One of the furloughed admitted to voting on the ALPA board. That does not seem kosher.

 

[Brasilia Pup]

If you are off probation, in other words been at the company for more than 1 year, you are entitled to vote. Simple as that. They have the right to vote on their own fate. There is no seniority in voting, if you have voting rights.

 

[www.]

I am willing to be that we could have raised more money and had a better participation for the furloughed pilot's fund if we had set up a private account (not associated with ALPO) for donations. Forcing people to pay is only going to result in people reluctantly paying the minimum, not opening their wallets to pay more.

You may get your wish.

 

[www.]

If you are off probation, in other words been at the company for more than 1 year, you are entitled to vote. Simple as that. They have the right to vote on their own fate. There is no seniority in voting, if you have voting rights.

Read the contract of when probation is over.

 

[sweptback]

If this was Delta, it would have been paid for by ALPO.

Actually, the last time Delta furloughed they did a similar assessment fund to pay their furloughees' COBRA. I'm sure a current DL pilot could tell you more about it.

 

[Crash Pad]

I have a question for those that voted no. If it was a fund to take care of abandoned dogs of furloughed pilots would you have voted yes?