How do I get out of ALPA

[Captain X]

I am ready let's do it.

Who's money do you think they are gonna use to finance their defense?

 

[Occam's Razor]

The reason ALPA has a system in place that forces everyone to pay whether they want to or not is because they KNOW they can not deliver what they promise.

We may have found the core issue here.

Please tell me exactly what ALPA promised you. No quibbling, Devil Dog. I want to hear what they promised you.

I'm a bit surprised that a former Marine would pull the "...but my recruiter told me....! line.

I know you've read my posts describing the forces arrayed against Labor right now...and Labor in Transportation specifically. I also know I explained to you what ALPA has asked YOU to do to help them accomplish the mission.

Did you?

"Skipper...3rd platoon doesn't want to take the hill, and I don't know if we can take it without them as a base-of-fire."

I can understand anger at some of the actions our union has taken...or failed to take. I've also held Office Hours to punish Marines who took actions they shouldn't have taken, so I also understand that sometimes you gotta hammer the very people you trust you life to.

You with me here?

What I can't understand is the inability to dissect the Order of Battle.

So let's start with the promises.

S/F

O.R.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

ualdriver, I talked with ALPA Legislative Affairs, including the senior lobbyists, I talked with many of the EC members, and I even talked to Prater himself. My opinion was unchanged. ALPA, and Prater specifically, acted inappropriately in this situation.

At least you can articulate the issues and use critical thought on the matter. It is much better than whether or not moaning or whining is important...

A lot of us aren't 'members'. We're hostages. We didn't choose to join your wonderful organization. We're were forced to.

The same way you were forced by birth to be an American?

You are a smart guy. Do you understand the consequences of choice?

Your comparison of ALPA membership to citizenship is very appropriate. Just like the governement you steal our money, spend it inappropriately, are unresponsive to the folks paying the bills and scold us for not doing our part when we complain that we're getting screwed.

Valid point.... got a better idea?

I guess it is better than living in a dictatorship or communist regime. Perhaps you'd like to be a pilot in Cuba?

Even better, as a citizen you cannot introduce a bill on the floor of Congress, but you can introduce a Resolution at your LEC meeting.

I've been a member of AOPA for a long time. I voluntarily send them a check every year because they do an EXCELLENT job of advocating and lobbying on behalf of GA.

Really... I've been a member of AOPA for a looooooong time too. I've even sent money to thier PAC. Have you?

Does AOPA help you pay your house note?

For many, AOPA is political organization that lobbies on behalf of thier hobby.

AOPA isn't bound by the RLA.

The only thing in common between AOPA and ALPA is airplanes.

Guess what Rez. They don't have to garnish my wages to get my money. Why? Because they are responsive to the will of the membership. They do what is best for GA. I'd have to look it up but I bet the staff payroll at AOPA isn't anywhere near what it is at ALPA.

AOPA isn't a trade union. So I am not sure that you can find thier salaries. Do a search... the facts are what they are... who cares about salaries..

How's this conversation....

"Boy we got those ALPA staff salaries under control."
"Yeah but we just lost the ability to fly transoceanic routes to the European Airlines, our earning potential is now maxed out at narrowbody pay."
"uggghh.. maybe you didn't hear me.... we fixed ALPA staff salaries!!!!"

The same thing applies to the NRA, AARP and a few other organizations.

Those alphabet groups aren't connected to your income, benefits and retirement.... so we aren't as passionate about those...

Like I said in another thread I think ALPA does a fantastic job when it comes to advocating safety, aeromedical and legal issues. I like the idea they lobby the feds on our behalf and I would gladly pay several hundred dollars a year to an organization that does that kind of stuff. ALPA just sucks at being a labor union.

Ocaam Razor's is calling out your expectations. Justify them.

There's too many conflicting interests in play and ALPA always defaults to where the money or potential money is. You asked for an example in another thread. How about AA-TWA? ALPA screwed TWA in hopes of wooing AA into the fold.

Justify. I say you got the crewroom version and are going with it....

ALPA should have went to the mat helping TWA pilots and they bailed on them. I'm not blaming AA pilots. Their union did their job and the reason it did is because it was an inhouse unit. It had one and only one responsibility and that was to look out for AA pilots.

Now I know you don't know what you are talking about. Who is listed in the lawsuit? Is it just ALPA? Now I fear this will turn into a ALPA-TWA thread.

Until we decentralize the labor side of the house and have each pilot group work independently from National, ALPA will continue to divide and conquer it's membership.

Wrong. You think national is complex. Wait till the international issues fall on you like a load of bricks.

You can call for in house unions but that is the equivilant of everyone closing up in thier shell. You can pretend that that is a solution as national and international market forces .....force you to deal with reality.

The success of our profession will be made by those who understand the deep complexities, build realtionships and work for positive change. This of course is much more difficult than the tempting and short term gratifying act of calling ALPA fubar. Of course progressive efforts will be hindered by those who call for ALPA's demise, in house unions and snicker like Wayne and Garth over moaning and whining.