GEORGE DUBYA
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2005
- Posts
- 713
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Because everything that Colgan ALPA would do would have to be approved by ALPA National.
What happens when your pilot group negotiates an agreement that the pilot group ratifies, the company agrees to, but it doesn't meet ALPA standards? It doesn't get signed, thats what.
So basically you can negotiate what you want as long as it is what ALPA national wants.
COlgan Rules!
Rez,
Overall that was a very disappointing rebuttal from you. I think you missed the point entirely or you are getting desperate to defend your position.
Since you obviously missed the analogy, what I'm talking about is having a third party (ALPA) that is unrelated to either group involved (Colgan pilots or Colgan Air) represent us. I don't feel they have our interest at heart. As far as legal representation, if you need to go to court, hire a lawyer. If you don't need to go to court, do you really need to hire a lawyer? If you don't need surgery, would you still hire a doctor?
If the Colgan pilot group decided to represent themselves do you really think they would do everything themselves? Don't you think they would hire an attorney or negotiator? Or has ALPA cornered the market on them?
And to chose not to be represented is not negating your rights. It is actually another right you have (please read the RLA again). It is part of our freedom to chose representation or not. Are you suggesting that we give up our right to not chose representation?
This last one is the best. Are you actually trying to tell me it is my responsibility to join ALPA? lol!!! What if I join AOPA instead? Would that cover my responsibility as a pilot? Do ALPA pilots benefit if we join Teamsters? What about pilots at American, Southwest and UPS? Are they being responsible? Wouldn't Colgan pilots be responsible if we started our own organization?
Not true. ALPA national provides help when you need it. It doesn't constantly hover over your MEC and approve/disapprove of the decisions that they make.
Not true. Do you think that Captain Woerth liked that pathetic NWA concessionary TA? Guess again. The pilots wanted it, though, so he let them have it. You control your own destiny. ALPA just provides the resources to help you.
ALPA doesn't have any set standards for CBAs. ALPA allows each MEC to determine its own priorities. The ALPA attorneys and other staff members are happy to help you out with determing priorities, but they are only there to help if you request it.
Ouch that really doesn't hurt me when you talk like that...
Keep up with me ok?
ALPA is not a third party. That is management anti union talk. With over 6000 hours I'd like to think you know better.
What is more representative? A democratic organization who votes policy and leaders (hint for you here: a union), or unilateral control group where you get whatever is given and you are offered no input (hint again: Corp America)
How my friend, HOW! How will the Colgan pilots represent themselves?
Choosing not to choose is a right. As I said before, if someone is not trained in law and they [try to] represent themselves in court.. I just don't see how logical or smart that is...
Are you really this way? Have you been drinking? the pilots of American, SWA and UPS purchase services from ALPA. They have to because they don't have the cost structure and the long term expierence to handle section 6 negotiations.
Any Air Line Pilot has benefited from ALPA and its 76 year history as a safety leader in this industry. Just like every worker takes for granted the 40 hour work week and two day weekend that unions fought for and won.
So yes, maybe you should join the organization that has contributed to your career and the things you don't even know that you take for granted. If you want me to school you on the safety issues alone that ALPA has addressed over 76 years I'll be happy to... BTW ALPA just testified on your behalf and on behalf of the AMR, SWAPA and UPS pilot in Congress.
Yes ALPA is a tade union but it is also a Professional Association.
ALPA is not perfect, but it is better than what you are contributing to this profession as of now. Join up, we'd love to have you...
PCL,
No, ALPA national does not have to hover over every move. BUT, it is true that the president must approve everything (Meetings, Negotiations, CBAs, LOAs, Addendums, etc). Anything that is agreed upon under the name of ALPA must be signed by the president or it does not become effective. That is from the ALPA constitution and bylaws. It does not matter if the MEC approved it, the pilot group ratifies it and the company agrees to it. If ALPA national does not agree, it doesn't get signed.
ARTICLE XVIII - AGREEMENT APPROVAL AND VALIDATION
SECTION 1 - COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
Conference or negotiations shall not be initiated, carried on, or concluded in the name of ALPA by
any member, group, or groups of members thereof to make or establish employment agreements
relating to rates of pay, rules, or other conditions of employment, or any other agreements, contracts,
or documents of a similar or related character, or any other form of agreements, contracts, or
documents without the prior approval of the President. Any and all agreements, contracts, or
documents of any and every character whatsoever shall not become effective, binding or operative
unless and until they bear the signature of the President.
Everyone that is a current ALPA member and everyone that works for any airline that ALPA is trying to organize should read the constitution and bylaws. Go to www.alpa.org on the top of the page click the search button and search constitution. It will give you the link.
OK, the next part brings us back to CCAir. You say CA Woerth didn't like the NW TA, but the pilots wanted it so he signed it. Then why didn't national sign off on CCAir? Didn't thier pilots want it? Does this suggest a bias towards the "majors" or against "regionals"?
ALPA must have some sort of standard or guidelines for CBAs. For a group that has been doing this so long and is the industry leader in negotiating they must have something to work from. I'm sure they are not just haphazardly running into the negotiations. Besides, how else does the president justify not signing any CBA?
How will Colgan pilots represent themselves? Maybe the same way pilots at American, Southwest and UPS do. Or maybe with a committee like Chicago Express pilots did. Is ALPA the only answer to everything? That raises a red flag with me.
We would hire our own attorney/negotiator. That would be the rational thing to do. Don't you agree?
Why would joining ALPA show responsibility and joining Teamsters or an in-house not be responsible?
Just out of curiosity, I would love to know what "services" that American, Southwest and UPS groups purchase from ALPA.
Are you saying they would fall apart in negotiations without ALPAs help?
If Colgan had and in-house, would ALPA not help us with the same services (for a price of course)?
But they have also done things that didn't benefit certain members (like CCAir or Jets for Jobs).
If union representation is all that you claim it is, then why is only 12 percent of the workforce union. Why is less than 8 percent of the private sector (thats us) workforce union? Why has union membership steadily declined since 1983.
Has Bubba signed the card yet?
of course he did. Bubba for MEC! BUBBA for MEC! Long LIVE BUBBA!!!
Bubba is a tool!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No he didn't he lost his box of crayons.
Does he still live in a can down by the river?
I agree. Every member of ALPA and every pilot group that is thinking of joining ALPA should read the Constitution and By-Laws. It always pays to be informed.
Yes, the President must sign every TA that an MEC approves in order for it to become a legally binding CBA. This is done to ensure that ALPA legal has time to verify that the contract complies with the law (no contract is valid unless it is compliant with the law), verify that the contract is not in violation of the Constitution & By-Laws, and make sure that there aren't any serious "loop-holes" that the negotiators and MEC didn't pick up on due to their lack of legal experience. In other words, this clause in the C & BLs is there to provide protection to pilot groups. It is not there to allow the President to lord over the pilots and micromanage their affairs. No President has ever acted in that manner.
Not at all. Captain Woerth didn't sign the CCAir contract because it was in violation of the C & BLs. ALPA's Constitution requires that a company provide proof of financial need before an MEC can give them concessions. The CCAir pilots passed a highly concessionary contract, but CCAir management refused to provide any proof that these concessions were needed. Because of that, Captain Woerth did not sign the contract. He can't approve an agreement that is in violation of the union's own C & BLs.
Besides, your management is trying to spin the CCAir situation to their benefit, and they're way off base. Does your management ever point out that ALPA demanded that all CCAir pilots be integrated into the single Mesa seniority list? Does your management ever mention that all of those CCAir pilots are now holding jet Captain slots at Mesa now? ALPA fought for those pilots, and they're much better off now because of it.
Well, I've already answered your last question. For the rest, NO, ALPA does not have any minimum standards or guidelines for CBAs. ALPA is happy to provide statistical analysis to an MEC to show them what the industry averages are, what the differences in work-rules are from carrier to carrier, etc..., but ALPA has no set minimum standards that a contract must have before being signed. Many pilots have fought for such standards for years, but ALPA has always rejected that philosophy and allowed MECs to set their own priorities and goals. ALPA is very much a "state's rights" organization.
PCL,
So was the wording on the addendum for the switch from Express I to Pinnacle what you were looking for? Seems to me that the first thing the Pinnacle pilots did was scream about the fact that they had it written in their contract that all flying under Pinnacle was to be done by Pinnacle pilots. Well, how did that turn out? Did the ALPA attorneys let you down on that one? From my perspective they did. So did ALPA legal not look at your addendum close enough or did they not "get" what you were going for?
You say the CCAir TA didn't get signed by national because it was in violation of the C & BLs. I did not see that part. Can you please give me the specific Article and Section that they violated? Thanks.
But again, the wishes of the smaller group were ignored for the wishes of the larger group.
Again, if there is something in the C & BLs that can be used to justify not signing, then you do have minumum standards and/or guidelines. And again, please give me the Article and Section that falls under.
PCL,
This is what I am talking about "let down"....
Here is the link to the thread:
http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=92327&page=2
What happened?
Thank you for the quote from the Admin manual but I don't think it really helps your point. This "guideline" is just to initiate negotiations on an agreement that the MEC deems concessionary. From the C & BLs, all negotiations are to be approved by national. I have to assume that the CCAir MEC notified national before they started this. Did the MEC think it was going to be concessionary? If they did, why did national let them negotiate without the "required" info. If they didn't, this part doesn't specifically say the CBA must be rejected by national. It appears that this was used by national to promote their agenda. Which was a single seniority list.
Here are some links to information about these issues.... Get informed.....