PID=RJDC?
64J>>I suspect Dan believes that a staple is the floor and DOH is the ceiling in a merger because it's self evident.
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Thank you for admitting that. This is the RJDC's (and its supporters') biggest problem. If you truly believe this, then why not "go for" something more. If you are truly confident that you will go down the binding path of a merger without first agreeing to the details, either by "process" or by lawsuit to force it, then why "compromise your position" or "tip your hand" by first agreeing to a staple.
Again, if this were high school debate class, you would be right. But this is the real world, and people on all sides of this discussion (including those outside of it) can see the temptation/anticipation of "greater than a staple" in your motivations.
Maybe (just maybe) in court your "objection, irrelevant" will be sustained, but in the real world it is painfuly obvious you will do anything, including threaten the entire profession with elimination of "all controling scope" to get your shot at "greater than a staple", all the while taking solice in the fact that at the end of the day you will at least have a staple.
Its not the idea of One List that I'm objected to. Its the extremely influential motivations, based on this "by any means necessary" greed of the RJDC and its plantiffs, which is threatening to drive the whole train off the cliff if they don't get their "traditional merger process" committed to before any of the vital details are worked out.
And simply saying "but this is how its traditionaly been done" carrys no water when the true motivations of those saying that are in serious question, which I believe is the case.
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64J>>I had to dig out the Questions and Answers portion of my PID handout and that tidbit you refer to is not there. Have you ever had the chance to read it?
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Yes I did read that, as well as many other "handouots" and "Q&A" sheets from that period of time. I stand by saying I saw it in writing, but this is a moot point since you admit both you as well as the RJDC (formerly PID) leadership and braintrusts all philosophicaly agree on the point in question, which is honestly (in their heart of hearts) believing that they would most likely get something "greater than a staple."
That's why saying now, just as saying then, "forget about our motivations, just first commit to 'the process'" has never and will never result in that binding process as a result. Unless of course the courts dictate it to be so, which I understand you are hoping for. And hoping now as you hoped then that "the process" gives you a really nice windfall.
And before you retort "but 'the process' insures there will be no windfalls" I challenge you to draft an acceptable merger that contains no windfalls. If you truly believe there won't be any, surely you wouldn't have any problem putting it in writing up front, would you? Oh yeah, I almost forgot, its not about the destination, its about the journey. Whatever you say, Zen master.
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64J>> 1) The Comair and ASA MECs went out of their way not to suggest any form of integration and allow the policy to work...
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As the people behind that big push for "the policy" believed, as you've admitted, a staple was the floor, and DOH the ceiling. So why would you ever agree to a staple up front when you can roll the dice and go for DOH? Your true motivations discredit your righteous plea for the journey of "the process."
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64J>> 2) There are no preconditions with ALPA merger policy. If all ALPA members are equal then merger policy shouldn't be applied differently because of who is requesting it. The word "policy" after all, means it applies to everyone.
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And when you are requesting merger policy between two airlines with nothing bigger than 66 seats, and one with nothing smaller than 107, going up to the 300+ range (assuming pay is correlated with size of AC, which it is in this case) and HUGE disparities between work rules, retirement programs and quality of life, ALL of which are based on seniority, you didn't think it reasonable to make basic assurances as to how the seniority issue would be adressed? Oh yeah, I forgot, its about the process...
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64J>> 3) Finally, merger policy is the only mechanism in place within the union for addressing the alter ego problem.
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No, actualy SCOPE is the only mechanism. We could all have one big happy list tomorrow, and just for grins you could get DOH or 1/2 DOH and get that 767 CA or FO award you have your eye on. But without "exclusive" scope don't you think Mesa and others would underbid you in a New York minute? So point number 3) is perhaps your biggest misunderstanding. Merge all you want, but without the protections of highly exclusive scope, it don't mean a thing.
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64J>> Let me help you with that mission statement:
1. Prevent the ASA and Comair pilots from economic harm by ALPA's predatory bargaining.
2. Compel ALPA to treat all of its members at Delta Air Lines equally and without discrimination into the future.
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Yeah sounds good, doesn't it. And the confederacy only wanted "state's rights" and the Nazi's only cared about the defense of their fatherland. The Sept 11th scum only cared about "God's will" right? The Doomsday Cult really thought that comet was coming to take them to the mothership, and the rest of us suckers still left on Earth after they left were the stupid ones. Everyone (except perhaps an odd portion of the criminaly insane) believes whatever it is they do is because of some legitimate, righteous belief. But that doesn't make it right.
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>>So, do you have a problem with equal representation as prescribed by the ALPA Constitution and By-laws?
Do you have a problem with admitting your motivations of a seniority grab windfall are, and have always been, the driving force in the debate of HOW we should merge? Until you put away your greed and state fair and realistic expectations we won't ever get to the WHEN.
>>The denied PID and the economic harm imposed by the Delta scope clause are only symtoms of the problem. I'd say the RJDC has been true to their goals and is tracking right on centerline.
I agree that they are tracking their centerline 100%. But sometimes there's more to one's center than one's stated goals. I believe the RJDC is tracking true to their deeply ingrained motivations, not their lofty rhetoric.
>>The fact that many First Officers at Comair and ASA still have a job and haven't been furloughed in a Jets for Jobs fiasco can be attributed to the deterrent effect of the lawsuit. You're welcome.
Oh okay. Well in that case I guess the fact that you haven't been abducted by aliens yet is because of Duane Woerth and his alien repelling lazer beam hidden deep below the earth in ALPA's aeromedical laboratories out in Colorado. You're very welcome too.
Can't prove I'm wrong, can you?
But that doesn't make it so, does it?