Look what ALPA is up to now............

[pilotyip]

Rasie dues?

You obviously don't know us very well. I find these actions by the ALPA General Manager to be appalling, and I'm disappointed that Captain Prater hasn't done something to stop it. He's in a very difficult position, as it's really the General Manager's job to handle this, but the General Manager has botched it to such a degree that I believe Captain Prater needs to step in and correct the situation.

I support the Unit 1 staff.

He's right they should either lay off enought of the ALPA management or raise dues in order to give the employees what they want.

 

[PCL_128]

He's right they should either lay off enought of the ALPA management or raise dues in order to give the employees what they want.

There's no need to raise dues. There are plenty of areas to trim the budget at the national level without trimming staff, in my opinion. Adjustments should also be made at the LEC and MEC level to reduce expenditures. I've seen LECs waste incredible amounts of money just because they don't want to send surpluses back to Herndon at the end of the year. That crap needs to stop.

 

[AlbieF15]

There's no need to raise dues. There are plenty of areas to trim the budget at the national level without trimming staff, in my opinion. Adjustments should also be made at the LEC and MEC level to reduce expenditures. I've seen LECs waste incredible amounts of money just because they don't want to send surpluses back to Herndon at the end of the year. That crap needs to stop.

My MEC contributes gets back about 28-30 cents on the dollar. You tell me who is wasteful? I'm glad to see Airtran in ALPA, but the nature of the beast is that the LECs have very real contraints to what they are allowed to spend on. The National staff, however, is largely unencumbered with as many restrictions.

Frankly, I often proposed that we subcontract unit 1 stuff out to an Indian offshore operation. I did it strictly in irony, but it was very interesting watching how our union put the shoe on the other foot to negotiate with those employees. There was no shortage of irony in that process...

 

[PCL_128]

My MEC contributes gets back about 28-30 cents on the dollar. You tell me who is wasteful?

That figure is somewhat misleading, since all of the services provided from the A & S Account aren't included in what comes into your MEC accounts. Your attorneys, E & FA consultants, communications staff in Herndon, Council Services Coordinator, etc... don't come out of your budget. But yes, it's certainly true that an airline your size contributes a great deal to ALPA. The FDX MEC in particular has been incredibly responsible with their money. Unfortunately, many other MECs aren't. Take a look at the UAL MEC's expenditures. This is an airline that gets back about $6 million into their own accounts every year, yet they still manage to spend millions from the MCF. You couldn't be more irresponsible with the members' money if you tried.

I'm glad to see Airtran in ALPA, but the nature of the beast is that the LECs have very real contraints to what they are allowed to spend on.

True, yet many of them purposefully overspend just because they don't want "their" money going back to the A & S (never mind the fact that all LEC Accounts are funded from the A & S in the first place ). I've seen LECs buy twice or even three times the amount of food they need for a Local Council meeting just because they're trying desperately to spend their Local Council budget for the year. It's nothing but waste. I'd love to see the EC propose some changes that would reduce the amount of money that large LECs get in their budgets. The straight per capita formula doesn't work, in my opinion.

The National staff, however, is largely unencumbered with as many restrictions.

True, and I see waste at that level also. The waste needs to be eliminated at all levels.

 

[hairball1173]

This is very dissapointing. I think ALPA should set a better example knowing that this would come to light in the media with everything going on. I hope they make it right and make a stand for a good example for all of us in this industry. Just my two cents. And btw I had to borrow those.

 

[Poahi]

This is going to sting for a while. Hope they get it resolved soon.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

In the meantime.. the service to ALPA officers and pilots by the staffers is lacking because of this consuming issue....

 

[PCL_128]

In the meantime.. the service to ALPA officers and pilots by the staffers is lacking because of this consuming issue....

I don't think so. The Unit 1 staffers have been incredibly professional and have not allowed this unfortunate event to affect their performance. Their dedication to the membership is commendable.

 

[DX Rick]

You obviously don't know us very well. I find these actions by the ALPA General Manager to be appalling, and I'm disappointed that Captain Prater hasn't done something to stop it. He's in a very difficult position, as it's really the General Manager's job to handle this, but the General Manager has botched it to such a degree that I believe Captain Prater needs to step in and correct the situation.

I support the Unit 1 staff.

So disapointed that you had to snuggle right up next to him in the ALPA picture?

 

[flynryan15]

So disapointed that you had to snuggle right up next to him in the ALPA picture?

If you look real close you can see a chubby!!!

 

[JoeMerchant]

I don't think so. The Unit 1 staffers have been incredibly professional and have not allowed this unfortunate event to affect their performance. Their dedication to the membership is commendable.

Don't you advocate them "working to rule"?

 

[PCL_128]

Don't you advocate them "working to rule"?

If that's what they want to do, then I would certainly support it. Hell, I've told many of them that they should have gone on strike. A few days of closed offices would have brought the General Manager to his senses and gotten a deal.

 

[JoeMerchant]

If that's what they want to do, then I would certainly support it. Hell, I've told many of them that they should have gone on strike. A few days of closed offices would have brought the General Manager to his senses and gotten a deal.

So why aren't they going on strike?

 

[PCL_128]

So why aren't they going on strike?

That's a question you should ask them.

 

[samballs]

My MEC contributes gets back about 28-30 cents on the dollar. You tell me who is wasteful? I'm glad to see Airtran in ALPA, but the nature of the beast is that the LECs have very real contraints to what they are allowed to spend on. The National staff, however, is largely unencumbered with as many restrictions.

Frankly, I often proposed that we subcontract unit 1 stuff out to an Indian offshore operation. I did it strictly in irony, but it was very interesting watching how our union put the shoe on the other foot to negotiate with those employees. There was no shortage of irony in that process...

Bull, I do union work and the LEC's spend wild at all airlines, everything is always official union dutys, just so they can get a free lunch, dinner, you name it