KeroseneSnorter
Robust Member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2003
- Posts
- 1,530
Been in a discussion on another thread about the issues we currently face.
My opinion is that ALPA needs to enact some reforms so to speak in how they negotiate and deal with mgmt.
One idea I had is to enact a minimum pay rate for all types of aircraft, regardless of what operation it is in.
It would require ALPA national to risk losing the dues from an airline or two since there would have to be penalties levied against pilot groups that lower the bar and break the minimum rates in any agreement. Up to and including expulsion from the union, hence the "risk" part.
However, when mgmt. decides to try to go to another group to fly x airplane at x crap rate they will find that ALL the ALPA carriers are bound by the same minimum rates so they might as well stop the whipsaw attempt.
There would have to be a way to stop the alter ego/non union carrier from stepping up to the plate as well. This would require that ALPA be able to negotiate into the contracts some control over who got hired, I.E. all new hires cleared by checking them against a list of "bottomfeeders". Would not have to be names so much as checking against airlines with known bottomfeeding and undercutting pilot groups I.E. any airline that flys the airplanes for less than the "Minimum" That way if a pilot decides to accept such a position, be it the 21 yr old kid with SJS or the 55 year old "I got mine" guy, they better be sure that is where they want to spend their career.
Obviously it would take a few years in the process as contracts come due to get the minimum rates installed, and the first round of installing these rates would be the roughest part, and that is where the highest risk comes from losing a few airlines from the union.
The big boys will probably be easier than the RJ "whipsaw special" carriers, but the smaller pilot groups are the most in need of a national union and the monatary support that ALPA can provide, thus if a group of young bucks gets the SjS urge, they are the ones least likely to be able to go without National support, and the ones least likely to want to remain stuck at their "Bottomfeeder"
Of course this is completly out of the box thinking and will ruffle a few feathers, but what do you folks think given what has happened to the industry since 1995 and the introduction of the RJ.
My opinion is that ALPA needs to enact some reforms so to speak in how they negotiate and deal with mgmt.
One idea I had is to enact a minimum pay rate for all types of aircraft, regardless of what operation it is in.
It would require ALPA national to risk losing the dues from an airline or two since there would have to be penalties levied against pilot groups that lower the bar and break the minimum rates in any agreement. Up to and including expulsion from the union, hence the "risk" part.
However, when mgmt. decides to try to go to another group to fly x airplane at x crap rate they will find that ALL the ALPA carriers are bound by the same minimum rates so they might as well stop the whipsaw attempt.
There would have to be a way to stop the alter ego/non union carrier from stepping up to the plate as well. This would require that ALPA be able to negotiate into the contracts some control over who got hired, I.E. all new hires cleared by checking them against a list of "bottomfeeders". Would not have to be names so much as checking against airlines with known bottomfeeding and undercutting pilot groups I.E. any airline that flys the airplanes for less than the "Minimum" That way if a pilot decides to accept such a position, be it the 21 yr old kid with SJS or the 55 year old "I got mine" guy, they better be sure that is where they want to spend their career.
Obviously it would take a few years in the process as contracts come due to get the minimum rates installed, and the first round of installing these rates would be the roughest part, and that is where the highest risk comes from losing a few airlines from the union.
The big boys will probably be easier than the RJ "whipsaw special" carriers, but the smaller pilot groups are the most in need of a national union and the monatary support that ALPA can provide, thus if a group of young bucks gets the SjS urge, they are the ones least likely to be able to go without National support, and the ones least likely to want to remain stuck at their "Bottomfeeder"
Of course this is completly out of the box thinking and will ruffle a few feathers, but what do you folks think given what has happened to the industry since 1995 and the introduction of the RJ.
