That is correct sir.
A former ALPA National officer who was forced to leave ALPA addressed the USAPA crowd....
He stated that ALPA has been a federation.... perhaps like the 50 states. The decision for ALPA to function as a loose conglomerate of individual groups has been made and continues to be made...
But keep in mind... when the economy is growing... everyone seems to love the "federation" as we use each others industry leading contracts to get one up... Did anyone complain about UAL2000 and the ability for D-ALPA to get DAL2001?
So what happens during the anti-growth times? Say 9/11/2001 till 2007? [Or maybe it is ongoing....] Suddenly everyone wants ALPA to be a union that battens down the hatches, circles the wagons (with everyone within the circle....of course...) and makes sure that no one gets unfairly harmed...
Logic says we can't have it both ways... can we?
So right now, we want a union. ALPA to be a real union..... and protect all those who pay dues... DCI guys, Aloha, ATA, TWA, RJDC, etc...
But what happens when the economy grows again... do we switch back to the 'federation'? Can we? Have we considered what it would be like to be a union during the growth period? Would those who had economic growth at their companies be allowed to negotiate to the best of their ability and allow themselves a different economic gain (more) than others who could not? Would that be a union? Is a union where we ALL rise and fall together?
Would XYZ airline be content with being held back because they couldn't achieve more because fellow union brothers and sisters at ABC airline would be not included?
Rez- we're pushing the ten year mark on those gains. Ever since, it's been a total collapse of our wages and our way of life. I'd have to argue, that given the longevity of the downward spiral, it may indeed be time to alter how we do business. As it comes down to our current way of doing business- DCI vs. Mainline, Dr. Phil would ask "And how's that workin' for ya?" To which, I'm inclined to reply- "NOT TOO GOOD".
As for working at ACA, World, and Delta.....Goggles, glad your contract is superior in every way to the feeders and regionals. However, that simply puts you in the lime light for making too much, and being too extravigantly compensated. Frankly, no matter what we make, or how little, it will always be too much in the eyes of management.
Cobra- what do you mean about a few bad apples messing up the lotto ticket at the regional level? Doesn't it make sense that the bulk of a pilot group should be polled/ represented in number and opinion?
Frankly, there's no way this ship is going to sail......a combined list would be a disaster for management. Effectively handing us a method, as pilots, to push for higher wages without a method (scope and outsourcing) to stop it. The Delta vs. DCI battle is simple cost control for Delta management. They aren't going to write this method off- it's too effective at keeping operating cost low. Regionals are a flat line for labor cost- if one spikes it gets chopped off at the knees and the flying sent somewhere else.......or another carrier is formed to suit the cost structure. Just look at Compass and Mid Atlantic and where they came from. Thinking that Delta pilots or DCI pilots are in the drivers seat is proposterous, and down right laughable. Management has been in the drivers seat for the last 8 years, and doesn't seem to be changing- especially with the "better than...." complexes that run rampant within the Delta/DCI group.
ACL- please elaborate on Moak and ALPA National. You were a little ambiguous in what you would expect to happen, or not happen, if elected as head of national........
