wms said:
If brand scope is only defined by action, then the RJDC's view of ALPA's definition of brand scope is subjective. This letter is just another group's perspective of what ALPA's view of brand scope is, based on the actions of individual carriers and MECs. Brand scope means something different at each airline, and the ASA/CA MECs should ask Malone exactly what DALPAs intentions are. And the RJDC should stop jumping to conclusions and getting everyone worked up without having the details. If there are the good relations between the MECs that everyone is talking about, then these questions may have been already asked.
The RJDC's view of "brand scope" may indeed be subjective. If ALPA would like the view to be more objective, then why hasn't ALPA defined what it means by "brand scope"? Instead what ALPA has done is banter around a new buzz phrase, with no definition, which it toutes as the answer to who knows what. If brand scope means something different at each airline, as you say, why should we be rushing to embrace it at Comair when we have no idea what it means?
You suggest that we ask Malone exactly what DALPA's intentions are? Are you truly naieve enough to believe that he would tell us that? Haven't you figured out that part of the problem is exactly that, i.e., we have no idea what the Delta pilots may be negotiating with respect to our jobs. The RJDC Is "worked up" precisely because we don't have the details and another pilot group is using our future as a bargaining chip in their negotiations. Where have you been?
Good relations between MEC's? What good relations? If these good relations exist and the MEC's have told each other what they are doing, then why hasn't your MEC told you? If Malone has told them what his intentions are, with respect to Comair pilots, why don't you know; why is the MEC keeping it a secret from us? Well, I'll tell you... they are not keeping it a secret, the fact is they have no idea what DALPA intends to do; not a clue. While they are busy telling you about the "good relations", the other group, DALPA, could be busily bargaining away what little we have now. Don't be so gullible, please. They have a history and it has never been favorable to us.
Unless I'm mistaken, brand scope primarily limits the out sourcing of flying.
Are you sure that's what it means? You aren't are you? If you really knew what it means you wouldn't be saying "unless I'm mistaken". That's the whole point of the debate, i.e., nobody really knows exactly what brand scope means.
You may not like the RJDC, but given the examples of what ALPA has already done, it's not too hard to guess what "brand scope" means to them. It means what's mine is mine and what's yours is mine and it's all about protecting one group (the mainline) by giving them even more control over another group (the regionals). You can believe as you choose, but I sure don't want Malone or any other Delta pilot deciding my future. I don't want Woerth doing it either. And, I also don't want my fellow pilots telling me that I
should want those things. Myabe you don't have much of an investment in this airline, but I have a BIG investment that I intend to protect. I'm not willing to give it up because you have little interest and little stake.
I agree that "we should find a way" to protect our interests together. We of Comair have been offering to sit down and do just that for many years. Probably long before you got here. The other side, DALPA, has never had any interest in that. There is no longer any need to pretend that they will suddenly change their ways. They have no stake in anything other than their own interests and those include getting rid of us if they can. We need to worry more about taking care of ourselves and less about what they think.
But the fact remains that DAL owns the flying, and everyone is jockeying for a piece of the pie. The fact is the group most likely to get it is the one that can have the most impact on the company. That is the DAL pilots. The WOs are powerless, and the best way to get a share of the pot is to solict the help of the one's with influence.
Yes, Delta does own the flying.
Let's be sure you understand that means Delta Air Lines, not the Delta pilots. You know why the regionals are powerless, as you put it? It is because there are too many folks like you that are brainwashed into believing that. Yes, we're jockeying for a piece of the pie. The truth is we had a peice and they had a peice and nobody was complaining. They are the ones that got greedy and decided to take a bigger peice, from us. That's what started the dispute. If we allow them to take whatever they want whenever they want it, in short order there will be nothing left, they will have it all. That is what they want and that is what ALPA's "brand scope" is designed to give them.
It's a Trojan Horse in the middle of your camp. Please wake up and smell the coffee.
The RJDC and others don't want to admit we need help, but would rather try to force things at the risk of poor relations than be diplomatic and work together.
Nothing but "poor relations" has existed for more than ten years. Where were you? The RJDC and others, like me, know very well that we need all the help we can get. The problem is being able to identify where that help should come from. It comes from within. The help we need is our own unity, not some kind of handout from the very people that make the need for help necessary.
What you say makes it clear that your abitions to one day go to the mainline because you don't want a "career with a commuter" is exactly why you are willing to bend over and grab your ankles. I have no problem with you prefering to fly for Delta than Comair. Get out your resume package and apply and I wish you good luck. While you're still here don't mess it up for the rest of us by giving away what we have because you think it will help to get you there. It will not help at all.
I, along with most pilots here, don't pay dues to the RJDC and am not a member. I am fed up that they have given the impression to the industry and others that they are our representatives, without my consent. Kind of like...
You are fed up because you say the RJDC is giving the impression that they are our representatives. Is that right? Well, I haven't heard the RJDC say that at all. I give to the RJDC because I want to and it is voluntary. The RJDC does not collect "dues" from anyone and it does not claim to represent anyone that hasn't volunteered to be represented.
What you don't seem to grasp is that every individual member of the union has a right to have his/her interests fairly represented by the union. In our opinion, the union has not done that, is not doing that, and has no plans to do that. We pay for that and we are suing to get what we pay for; fair representation.
Every month both you and I are
required to pay 1.95% of our gross income to a labor union that does not represent our interests, and that assists another pilot group to assault our job security and take from our future. It is not optional, it is mandatory. If you don't pay it they can get you fired. How come you're not fed up with that? Is it because you think they are going to help you to leave your commuter airline and become a real pilot at Delta?
You can call it "diplomacy" if you want to but there comes a time when diplomacy fails and action is required. Action presents two options; surrender or fight for your rights. Your choice appears to be surrender; my choice is to fight for what is mine.
