mdanno808 said:
, I also think that they have allowed themselves to become extremely political,
This is saying the Pope allowed himself to become extremely Catholic.
ALPA was created as a political organization. Has function as a political organization......
[In fact, the Air Transport Association, airline managements political arm, (they have a PAC too) was created in part due to ALPA's political effectiveness in Wash DC.]
The Age60 rule is a gov't law it will be changed on CapHill. CapHill where the politicians work.
EVERYTHING that effects our careers, from the MEC negotiating table to age60, CASS, FFDO, duty times, the jB 8hour exemption, is done on CapHill.
If the FARs don't rule our profession then the CBA does. FARs=CFR, CBA=RLA. CFR and RLA means politics. ALPA knows this, that is why WE (you and me) are a political organization.
The issue is no one wants to acknowledge the huge elephant in the room. The elephant is politics. If you want to be a spectator in your airline career, then keep hanging out on flightinfo........
....or get involved.......no, this isn't a volunteer speech. Just get educated and particpate. You don't have to become a politicians, just support the ones that support you. (your politicans are; LEC/MEC Officers, EVP, National Officers (I know, I know, our beloved DW!
and your gov't politicans.) ALPA is a resource not a service. Know how the system works. In my opinion most of you don't. And that is yours and ALPA's fault.
Once ALPA has decided what thier position on Age60 will be, now what? Well if you agree with the updated position (it maybe the same, it may not) then how will ALPA influence CapHill? ALPA-PAC is one method. Do you contribute? Probably not.
If you don't agree with the updated ALPA position on Age60, then you lost a political battle. It happens all the time. But that doesn't mean you pout like a five year old and post your resignation letter to Duane on flightinfo and wear your pin upside down or not at all. No, you stay engaged, and you continue to be a positive member, because age60 is just one of many issues.
It is extremely fustrating to see grown professional pilots whining cause ALPA isn't thier everything. Hey, my wife isn't my everything. ALPA isn't perfect, never tried to be, and niether is the church, your airline, your family and your country. Get over it. Stick with the program. Continue to have a place at the table and contribute positvely!
USAtoday just ran an article on WalMart and thier lobbying efforts. If WalMart can spend millions to influence CapHill to create legislation to better thier interests, can't you send $50 lousy dollars to ALPA-PAC to influence your interests? Most of you don't know about ALPA-PAC or you think the PAC supports liberal, socialist issues. You could never be more wrong.
Your LEC Officers should have four LEC meetings a year. You can't make at least one of these? And becuase you don't, a core group of pilots (14) showed up to the UAL SFO meeting and said the entire LEC supports an age60 change.
As a previous poster stated, during the good times no one worries about ALPA or ALPA is great for the industry leading CBA that got me my Benz, but when times go bad..........
During the good times is when we need to be stocking our War Chest. Getting educated, informed, so when the bad times come when can focus on the issues and not the blame game....
