ATTENTION Furloughe ALPA Members

[Rez O. Lewshun]

What I meant in my previous post is that the people that get the most representation is the senior groups at the major carriers. This string's content is based on ALPA not allowing furloughed members to take part in a survey which will very much affect them in their carreers. Is this looking out for all of it's members best interests?

All,

I am a furloughed pilot. (x2). I can understand the issue with ALPA not allowing furloughed members to vote. Is there a sound reason? Has anyone asked their ALPA representative what the issue is?

As far as ALPA representing "the senior groups at the major carriers" I disagree with this statement. It is not that the SENIOR groups at the majors get the representation, it is the MAJOR airline groups get more representation.

It has to do with numbers and democracy! There are simply more pilots at the major level. And they have more votes. During ALPA's history First Officers had no vote. Later they had only 1/2 vote. Now THAT was a Captains Club.

However today, all status' (CA/FO/FE) have fair and equal representation. But the regional guys have thier issues. (RJDC). And that is the negative side to being a part of the most powerful pilots union.

Lets relate this to the US Fed Gov't. Does every citizen or interest group feel they are fairly represented. Probably not. But what is the solution? Re-structure Congress? Include a rightsizing of the Executive and Judical Branches? No system is perfect. And ALPA doesn't try to be perfect, only its members have a level of expectation that isn't real.

ALPA needs to grow and adapt to the changes. Perhaps there needs to be a shake up with representational structure. I would argue that the current structure works fine (it could be better) but the pilots don't even use this system. And in order to invoke change one has to know how to use the current system....

It is like the 50 states. Every state has two votes, but some states have greater populations. So should ALPA create a House and Senate type structure? Not sure, more bureaucracy is good in ALPA's case.

Flightinfo is an acceptable place to start, however there is alot of information out there that needs to be known to use ALPA effectively to your benefit. The first item of business is to get engaged. (posting on flightinfo is not being engaged! ). Here is my Top Ten List.....

1. ALPA Constituion and By Laws
2. ALPA Administration Manual
3. Your CBA
4. Roberts Rules of Order (for LEC meetings)
5. Members Section of ALPA.org
6. LEC/MEC Reps
7. MEC policy manual
8. Resolution drafting and presentation
9. Flying the Line Vol. I and II
10. Open mind; pragmatic, realistic, logical


If you don't have time to get educated on all this...then I don't know what to tell you. You get whatever you put into it..... Coming to work and flying the jet is one thing. But understanding your career and controlling what you can is another.

Sure this post is boring. It lacks wit, cleverness and entertainment. But it is real and it will get you started.

Thoughts?

 

[N8Dogg]

Since it appears ALPA has dropped the ball so many times why not recall the current leadership. Somehow we have to turn this industry around and this might be a good start. Let's get someone in there that is gonna fight for us instead of getting sidetracked on stupid tangents. Just my $0.02.