ALPA better be ready--they have a golden opportunity the next 2 yrs!

[linepilot]

You also forgot to mention UAL's three years in bankruptcy and look at their situation today, no better than when they entered bankruptcy years ago... As long as this country remains a capitalistic one-- the weak will fail and the strong will survive... My opinion is the same for Detroit-- we shouldn't be bailing out weak companies who have inferior products because that being said, GM and Toyota sold the same number of vehicles last year 9.2 million- but GM lost Billions and Toyota made several billion. The difference between the two companies? One is union the other is not. One builds products people are willing to purchase, the other one does not. If Detroit is going to survive, there will have to be mergers, maybe even a bankruptcy reorganization to tool their plants and work force for a more competitive environment.

ALPA had it's chance to shine years ago. It failed.

The pendulum WILL swing.

My personal opinion is that if you take a 20 year phugoid, we're at the bottom swinging up.

Enjoy!

 

[CFIT]

"ALPA had it's chance to shine years ago. It failed."


Not so much that it failed, but did nothing. The system ran but always had small set backs with little or no accomplishments, it ran on the status quo. All the while management was doing their homework, changing certificates, setting up alter egos, poison to bancruptcy. ALPA, no action, president after president comfty making their sickening pay package and lifetime pension.

This whole time the major aspect that management had to combat any percieved strength that labor could have had was always fulcrumed over the RLA.

Any action on that front? Sadly no.

When the president of the organization loses the oppulance of the crown, action will take place. But to the many that see that nothing takes place on the top, no sacrifices, while nearly all take deep cuts, disatisfaction not only brews but becomes the mainstay.

Prater needs to step down and be filled by a real line pilot, willing to work for a real wage comeserate with the membership. With a real agenda that includes focusing on the RLA, not somebody that throws their hands in the air and wishes they was something they could do about it.

Make it real union, that really has strength from within, and every pilot will fall over them selves to join.

Make it real president, that is only bettering the association and not themselves with disgusting pay packages, and many pilots will feel their time volunteering is appreciated.

Make it a real union, that can recognize it needs to re-invent itself, with a top down re-structuring.

I would join that union.

 

[PCL_128]

Prater needs to step down and be filled by a real line pilot

This just pisses me off. Captain Prater was flying airplanes probably before you were even born. He still did everything he could to maintain currency after he was elected ALPA president. What makes you think you or anyone else is more of a "real line pilot" than he is? Ridiculous.

 

[CFIT]

This just pisses me off. Captain Prater was flying airplanes probably before you were even born. He still did everything he could to maintain currency after he was elected ALPA president. What makes you think you or anyone else is more of a "real line pilot" than he is? Ridiculous.

I doubt he has more time than me and he is only a few years older, I've been flying longer than he has.

But as for a "real line pilot" goes, how many are making over HALF A MILLION A YEAR?

anyone?

 

[PCL_128]

But as for a "real line pilot" goes, how many are making over HALF A MILLION A YEAR?

Captain Prater doesn't make anywhere near half a million dollars. Stop spreading lies.

 

[CFIT]

Captain Prater doesn't make anywhere near half a million dollars. Stop spreading lies.

His "base" pay is at a rate of $296 an hour, 176 hours per month, plus housing, and other miscellanous expenses. And a new Lincoln Town car every other year.




Makes me want to sign up and volunteer........

 

[AC560]

To those who think Obama is anti-labor, you are very mistaken.

Likewise those who think Obama or any politician is going to support a small group (union pilots) over a large group (the traveling public) are very mistaken.

If RLA went away tomorrow Obama would more then likely quickly apply Taft-Hartley they same as Bush did against the ILWU if there was an airline strike. Thousands of stranded voters needed to be rescued from greedy pilots. Whether that is reality or not the perception would be pilots get paid a lot (which at the majors is certainly true). There is about as much public support for pilots as there is for the UAW guys.

Finally if a strike was allowed to continue freely, the airline in question would more then likely go out of business. The seniority model means that if that occurred you would have pilots used to making $100K plus go back to making $20K a year with possible pension loss. The company knows this and the pilots know this. Thus the top two thirds of the union readily agree to screw the bottom third plus future new hires in order to minimize their own loss and protect their jobs.

The airline unions problem is that you have a highly skilled workforce whose skills and experience are not the basis for compensation. Until you change that model your basically doomed to a downward slide.

 

[JoeMerchant]

Likewise those who think Obama or any politician is going to support a small group (union pilots) over a large group (the traveling public) are very mistaken.

If RLA went away tomorrow Obama would more then likely quickly apply Taft-Hartley they same as Bush did against the ILWU if there was an airline strike. Thousands of stranded voters needed to be rescued from greedy pilots. Whether that is reality or not the perception would be pilots get paid a lot (which at the majors is certainly true). There is about as much public support for pilots as there is for the UAW guys.

Finally if a strike was allowed to continue freely, the airline in question would more then likely go out of business. The seniority model means that if that occurred you would have pilots used to making $100K plus go back to making $20K a year with possible pension loss. The company knows this and the pilots know this. Thus the top two thirds of the union readily agree to screw the bottom third plus future new hires in order to minimize their own loss and protect their jobs.

The airline unions problem is that you have a highly skilled workforce whose skills and experience are not the basis for compensation. Until you change that model your basically doomed to a downward slide.

That sums it up very nicely....

 

[CFIT]

All of this is news to ALPA, as we speak a "new" steering commitee is assembling to have a "resolution" to get to the bottom of this unforseen dilemma.

Expect discussion and possible LEC voting by 2015.

 

[Sedona16]

Prater needs to step down and be filled by a real line pilot, willing to work for a real wage comeserate with the membership. With a real agenda that includes focusing on the RLA, not somebody that throws their hands in the air and wishes they was something they could do about it.

This is funny coming from a guy who works within an organization that is lucky to achieve 2% pay raises during arguably the most prosperous time in regional airline history. Where the top three hogs take home considerably more than the average (non check airman) line pilot. Lets not even talk about all the other give aways and block hour overide. Laughable.