ALPA Monument at KCVG

[Rez O. Lewshun]

The most disappointing thing is that you're entirely correct. It's kind of a circular problem, isn't it? How do you get the leadership to appeal to the pilots so the pilots will follow the leadership so the leadership will appeal to the pilots...

That, I have no suggestions for. I wouldn't even know where to start. At the very least it's clear now where the core of the problem is IMO.

This is a human dynamic and not limited to ALPA. However, I offer that ALPA is complete with college educated professionals, all leaders by default.

 

[aewanabe]

its delta mgt fault, its also the fault of undercutting w*************************, why use guys who want to get paid to work, when just around he corner are a bunch of morons who will do someone elses job for half the price. so long comair, hello ****************************** bags.
thanks for all your hard work at making this a profession worth having.

How are those industry-leading payrates and retirement working out for you over at VA?

 

[Flightdawg]

You sure do make it easy to prove a point.

Here are some suggestions

Nice ideas. So when are you going to start working on them?

You talk like ALPA is some evil empire in a distant land. Have you ever been to a national meeting? It's a democracy like Congress with each MEC fighting for their own people. Some of the things you mentioned took place under Duane, but times have changed including dumping Duane. There are many regional pilots in key positions at national. Things may not be changing as fast as you like, but they are changing. The best way to make them change faster is to go in and get your hands dirty making it happen.

 

[Flightdawg]

Pilot groups should be allowed some autonomy, but when it comes to the overall strategy of raising the bar for the profession, it's time to give up some control, because this just isn't working.

Slight disagreement here. How much control and over what?

You are completely correct about pilots not wanting big brother to run their MEC. I'm with them on this philosophy. A union isn't a corporation, a nation, the military or any other hierarchical organization. It's a bottom up people's movement. It's the members who are in charge. Our problem is that too many of our members either think they are still in the military or still working for Burger King. They sit around waiting for orders when they should be attending union meetings giving orders to their representatives.

Another thing too many union pilots don't understand is that they need coordinate their desires with their fellow pilots. It's all great that I have my needs and wants, but if those needs and wants don't match the other pilot's in my group then I won't get them. I need to convince others why it is a good idea. If too many pilots have a wide variety of needs and wants, then it sends a mixed message to our reps and they won't know what the membership wants. In the end, they would just do what they want. Union pilots need to be organized, focused and clear about their goals.

 

[cmrflyer]

How are those industry-leading payrates and retirement working out for you over at VA?

Great. Glad to see you got a pay raise.
Your old 190 rates are what delta took into court to show the judge just how "over paid" the comair guys were for flying the 70 seaters.
Funny how proud you are of your rates now.

 

[WayBack]

I did fight, Joey. You're the one that wants to tuck tail and run all the time.

Did you "take it to the mat"!?
When you fight, do you dress up as The Revolting Blob......(refer to the movie Billy Madison)

 

[aewanabe]

Great. Glad to see you got a pay raise.
Your old 190 rates are what delta took into court to show the judge just how "over paid" the comair guys were for flying the 70 seaters.
Funny how proud you are of your rates now.

Try some research; the 190 rates I started with at B6 were well above OH's pre-bankruptcy 70 seat rates. I also helped with the JBPA campaign which was a large factor in us obtaining a raise, and am supporting the drive for ALPA, so yeah I am proud of our rates now. What exactly are you doing for the profession over at VA, while you scream about w************************* and scumbags? Hypocrite.

 

[cmrflyer]

I suggest you do your research, your 190 pay rates were below comairs 70 seat pay rates. check you facts.

 

[cmrflyer]

at one stage I seem to remember your 12th year 190 captains pay was around $89. that was lower than 50 seat pay at clownair.

 

[aewanabe]

Yes, the B6 190 CA pay was that low at one time. At the same time 190 FOs started at 37/hr... And I chose not to work there until the payrates came up. I started under rates of 47/hr for first year FOs, and CAs started at 80/hr year one and topped out at 100, after 12 years.

All of the above was too low, and I've worked with the organizing effort to bring it up since I got here. It's still too low... In the meantime, I don't scream and gripe at Regional pilots for the ills of the industry while working at the lowest-paid narrowbody operator in the country.

 

[Scope out RJ's]

That's funny coming from a Gulfstream and Pinnacle alum......

What's even funnier is this coming from an ASA pft scumbag supporting a scab group like the rjdc!

 

[Regul8r]

ALPA has proven that they are entirely unwilling to protect their prized bar-raisers, as we've seen with Comair. Worse than this, even as ALPA stands by and watches the last union success story disappear, they don't even allow the Comair pilots martyrdom status. They just blame them for the RJDC and a misguided seniority resignation policy circa 2003. Swallow your pride ALPA and show you've got the balls to stand up for those who had the balls to fight for you!

And the biggest hypocrisy of all will be when Comair closes it's doors, another ALPA carrier will be there to pick up the flying. Where's this "ALPA Unity" we keep hearing about? Eagle pilots...ASA pilots...Mesa pilots...TSA pilots? What are you guys doing to protect your ALPA brothers at Comair? The ALPA "house" is already divided amongst itself.

Fantastic post, BVT.

 

[Regul8r]

ALPA isn't to blame for idiots at other regionals refusing to fight for what they deserve.

On the contrary! Are the MEC's to be held blameless when they tell the pilot group to vote for some P.O.S. TA because "it's the best they could get"? Where's the leadership??? I don't see it at the MEC level and certainly not the National level