My hero....JC Lawson... Profile in CVG Enquirer...bring some Kleenex

[PCL_128]

The contract they settled on after the strike was not much better than the company's final offer before the strike. Some sections were worse.

True. But JC would say that the strike itself was an important achievement because it showed regional managements that regional pilots are willing to go to the mat when necessary. It's just a shame that no other regional group was willing to follow suit. Now the strike is a distant memory, and many of the regional pilots today don't even know anything about it.

Usually, when JC stood up with his BS everyone groaned ans said, "here we go again", then made fun of him at the hospitality suites that night.

Also true. But just because someone is shrugged off doesn't mean that they aren't right. JC actually understands true trade unionism and what it will take to fix things within ALPA. It's a shame that no one wants to listen.

 

[PCL_128]

Please go away PCL. Comair pilots know exactly what to think of JC.

I doubt that. Very few pilots have the slightest clue about what goes on in their union. Crew room gossip doesn't count.

 

[imacdog]

Yeah the Comair pilot group only went through a bankruptcy and witnessed first hand the poor job the union leadership did in leading the pilot group. So please, you PFT hypocrite, take your preaching somewhere else.

 

[PA44Jockey]

So much for not talking to the press...........

 

[samballs]

I doubt that. Very few pilots have the slightest clue about what goes on in their union. Crew room gossip doesn't count.

I have a feeling most pilots at Comair knew what our union was up to for the last 2-3 years. I know there is the saying two wrongs don't make a right, but I think JC one day thought "if I do all wrong will it come out right". PCL128, stop defending him he did a lot of damage, you say he was trying to educate mainline pilots on the fued between them and regionals, but as always with JC he would say something was bad but it was ok for him to do it. I think the Delta pilots will confirm that, Comair and Delta pilots get along the least and it's all because of him. PCL why do you always act like its ok for the Alpa leaders to make errors "its human" you say. YOu can never say Alpa messed up, you always say "they made a mistake, but look what they have done good" well did you ever stop to think the bad out weighs the good. You sure like the Alpa koolaid.

 

[PCL_128]

PCL128, stop defending him

Sorry, but no. JC is a good man that worked hard for his pilots. He made plenty of mistakes, but I firmly believe that he was doing what he thought was best for the pilots he represents. I wish I could say the same for lots of other ALPA leaders.

PCL why do you always act like its ok for the Alpa leaders to make errors "its human" you say.

Is it not human to make mistakes? Do you expect and demand absolute perfection from your ALPA leaders? Do you believe that's a reasonable expectation?

YOu can never say Alpa messed up, you always say "they made a mistake, but look what they have done good" well did you ever stop to think the bad out weighs the good. You sure like the Alpa koolaid.

I say that ALPA messed up plenty of times. But yes, ALPA's good far outweighs its bad.

 

[doh]

True. But JC would say that the strike itself was an important achievement because it showed regional managements that regional pilots are willing to go to the mat when necessary. It's just a shame that no other regional group was willing to follow suit...

I disagree on part of that statement. Comair pilots are willing to go to the mat, but regional pilots as a whole are unwilling. Look what happened after our strike. Every one else caved. And national ALPA led the way in telling them to cave! You won't get a better contract, live to fight another day, yadda, yadda, yadda. I actually think the rank and file major folks were willing to fight each regional management. I think national lacked the will.

 

[samballs]

Sorry, but no. JC is a good man that worked hard for his pilots. He made plenty of mistakes, but I firmly believe that he was doing what he thought was best for the pilots he represents. I wish I could say the same for lots of other ALPA leaders.Is it not human to make mistakes? Do you expect and demand absolute perfection from your ALPA leaders? Do you believe that's a reasonable expectation?I say that ALPA messed up plenty of times. But yes, ALPA's good far outweighs its bad.

Get off your knees already

 

[PCL_128]

I disagree on part of that statement. Comair pilots are willing to go to the mat, but regional pilots as a whole are unwilling. Look what happened after our strike. Every one else caved.

I agree. That's what I meant in the last sentence.

 

[John Pennekamp]

I disagree on part of that statement. Comair pilots are willing to go to the mat, but regional pilots as a whole are unwilling. Look what happened after our strike. Every one else caved. And national ALPA led the way in telling them to cave! You won't get a better contract, live to fight another day, yadda, yadda, yadda. I actually think the rank and file major folks were willing to fight each regional management. I think national lacked the will.

ASA did not cave. In fact, it hurt us the most when you caved (three times) during our negotiations. Especially the one outside of bk, the "pay freeze" for the 170s you never got.

But JC and the boys still sent us stickers saying "Comair pilots stand behind ASA pilots". They left out "with a bottle of KY and a big smile".

 

[JoeMerchant]

JC actually understands true trade unionism and what it will take to fix things within ALPA. It's a shame that no one wants to listen.

I have to agree here with PCL_128....and I don't often do that.....

I do have to add that JC was an RJDC supporter.....

 

[PCL_128]

I do have to add that JC was an RJDC supporter.....

Nobody's perfect.

 

[JoeMerchant]

ASA did not cave. In fact, it hurt us the most when you caved (three times) during our negotiations. Especially the one outside of bk, the "pay freeze" for the 170s you never got.

But JC and the boys still sent us stickers saying "Comair pilots stand behind ASA pilots". They left out "with a bottle of KY and a big smile".

No other pilot group will "stand behind" any other pilot group....We are all competing with each other.....

 

[JoeMerchant]

Nobody's perfect.

Without getting into our usual pi$$ing contest, why do you think he was an RJDC supporter? You yourself mentioned that JC wanted to "fix" ALPA. Those were your words. You usually don't "fix" something if it isn't broken? Is ALPA broken?

 

[PCL_128]

Without getting into our usual pi$$ing contest, why do you think he was an RJDC supporter? You yourself mentioned that JC wanted to "fix" ALPA. Those were your words. You usually don't "fix" something if it isn't broken? Is ALPA broken?

I've always said that ALPA is broken in some ways. I simply don't feel that lawsuits against your own are an acceptable way to fix problems. JC frequently talked about the huge divide between regionals and majors. MECs don't talk to each other as much as they should. Very few MECs coordinate. There is no centralized power. Etc... Duane himself agreed with much of this. Unfortunately, Pennekamp is right that most people just roll their eyes and talk sh-- about JC after his "speeches." People refuse to acknowledge that JC is absolutely right about the faults within the Association. He eventually made the right decision and ceased his support of the RJDC, and that's one of the reasons that I respect him. He realized that change was far more likely from within, but it's going to take a hell of a lot of work. Personally, I hope there's a position for him at National in some way, because I'd hate to see him just go back to the line and not contribute anymore to the profession.