Rez O. Lewshun
Save the Profession
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2004
- Posts
- 13,422
Well which is it Rez? Do you want guys involved or not??? They are voicing their opinions on where ALPA is heading and the majority is NOT happy at all.
Incorrect. There is no majority. Only 30% particapted in the online survey. In addition, of the minority particaption, a majority said that if the change was inevitable, then they want ALPA to be a part of the process.
In every post, you demean pilots for not getting involved.
Perhaps... my intent is to motivate them to become active particapants in their career.
So what does one have to do to be involved enough?
With 5% LEC particaption, 30% LEC voter particaption I think one needs to get connected. The only time I've seen 85% or more particaption is a new TA.
Most pilots don't know thier contract and they don't know who thier elected reps are. They have never read the C&BL and have know idea who comprises "ALPA National" yet they hate and despise "Nat'l"
There are only so many positions people be elected or appointed to. What percentage of pilots are off in one given day to attend LEC meeting? There is a reason that people dont get involved in ALPA. No one listens to them anyways.
True that many pilots are working during meetings. At the same time I have spoken to reps that have stated.. during contract negotiations a LEC meeting was being held and outside the meeting room pilots were updating Jepps, talking to freinds, playing cards, etc.. In addition, when the airline declares BK suddenly it is standing room only in the LEC meeting... So pilots en masse know how to show up to a meeting.
This isn't pilot specific but a mentality of many organizations such as HOAs.
It gets to the point that people say " aww f*ck it". That happened some time ago with ALPA.
That is because unions are political organizations. A pilot has an issue and shows up with a resolution to effect change. He is not prepared politically to get the doc passed. It takes work, time and politiking to pass a resolution. I've seen many pilots show up wanting to pass a resolution with zero documentation! Just a verbal effort!
Now he fails at his attempt and declares ALPA fubar!
You are damn right. They paid their hard earned money and expect something in return. But so far, the have got nothing.
If pilots really want ALPA to function like they treat it today, then dues will have to go double digit, so professional politicians can take over. However, the new complaint would be that these reps are non pilots and are out of touch. (sound familiar). In addition the increased dues would go over like profanity in church.
They way it is set up is pilots need to become politically active in their careers. So instead of trying to re-invent the paradigm, let's try and make the current one work. We haven't really tried it out.
Why is it pilots insist on handing over the reigns to thier careers to another when they have the ability to get involved politically and democratically?