New AAI ALPA Strategy: Fire SWA Haters!

[-9Capt]

That's a double negative. Was that what you meant to say or a typo?

Typo, oops

 

[Ty Webb]

This will not affect SLI at all, and it is really not the business of SWAPA pilots.

Sure, it's a free country. and we can sit around and dissect your people too, but when does it cross the line and become obnoxious? It ain't your business, just like it ain't our business who you elect.

 

[GoodTimes]

When does it cross the line and become obnoxious? Ask the Deltoid Duo.

 

[Quiet Flight]

It's a typo if I'm not mistaken, knowing him and his thoughts on issues lately and he's right in that ANY ONE person's removal isn't going to affect the SLI. It will, however, affect the ability of the Association to run smoothly. TO didn't have much of a social life, no kids or wife, don't think he was dating, ALPA work WAS his hobby, and he lived it 18 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Not many volunteers will be willing to dedicate that same time and energy, nor will they know ALPA policy and procedures inside and out as well, nor will they likely be as effective in dealing with management, all rolled into one person. It'll take at least 3, if not 4 or 5 volunteers stepping into those positions on a part-time basis to do the same work TO was doing by himself.

If enough people with good qualifications step up and volunteer to fill those needs, it'll be OK. If not, a lot of the day-to-day non-SLI union work (still getting management to honor the contract, ongoing grievances, daily issues, message board communications, etc) will start to fall by the way side. Not a good thing when we still have at least 9 months to 2 years left until we start to roll up the carpet as AAI ALPA.

Hopefully BJ will be better in the CEO's chair than BF was in terms of union relations and direct the V.P. Flt Ops to quit violating the contract in the interim between merged operations. That will go a LONG way into lowering the workload that ATN ALPA has.

As far as TO getting the boot for interfering with the SLI... I'm not buying that line yet. Of the reps who have returned my phone call, only one has mentioned that and only by broad innuendo, not by details or specifics. I'm reserving judgment on the way it went down until some specifics are released. The MEC is walking and talking in lock-step, which means they agreed as a committee as to what to say and how to say it which, after only ten years of ALPA experience (and seeing things like this before), has taught me that ALWAYS means there's more to the story.

My personal bet is that this is partially driven by the recent elections of more reps who think like CJ and AC, those new pilot reps not liking TO and his heavy-handedness in MEC meetings, and one, last SLI issue being the straw that broke the camel's back. I also think it's a shot across the bow for LH. He's not irreplaceable, but it would be better not to change MEC Chairs at this point in the process.

In my opinion, our MEC is more cohesive than ever after this move, evidenced by the voting record on the issue, and unified behind our Merger Committee in an even more supportive way than before (if that's even possible), leaving our MC autonomous to negotiate and reach an SLI solution that is fair, equitable, and meets the minimum needs of our pilot group or take it to arbitration if unable to reach a workable deal.

As I've said before, this pilot group isn't going to up and replace the MEC with people who will change that direction. If anything, the new reps that were just elected last month (at least the two in MCO that I know personally and one of the two in MKE) are more "Hard-Liners" in terms of defending the pilot group. That's what the pilot group wanted, so that we could sit back, do our job, and relax, knowing that they are working in our best interests.

Funny how SWAPA pilots elect Steve Chase in the same thought process that we elect 5 new MEC reps. Guess pilots, no matter who they work for, think quite closely alike.

Lear,

I'm just curious, but why did you think it was ok to use the SWAPA president's full name and yet only use initials for ALL of the ATN ALPA people you mention?

Again, just curious.

Thanks.

:beer:

 

[LeeRoyJenkins]

Lear,

I'm just curious, but why did you think it was ok to use the SWAPA president's full name and yet only use initials for ALL of the ATN ALPA people you mention?

Again, just curious.

Thanks.

:beer:

I was wondering the same.

 

[redflyer65]

This will not affect SLI at all, and it is really not the business of SWAPA pilots.

Just more than a little insight into what's going on internally at AAI ALPA.. they are just not able to completely sweep it under the rug this time around. (usually the way ALPA works)

 

[SWA/FO]

Is the ship sinking?

 

[Lear70]

Lear,

I'm just curious, but why did you think it was ok to use the SWAPA president's full name and yet only use initials for ALL of the ATN ALPA people you mention?

Again, just curious.

Thanks.

:beer:

You're absolutely right, I should have. Don't know why.

My apologies, wasn't intended as a slight or anything negative. :beer:

On a side note, finally got a call back from TO and the big picture is starting to come into view.

 

[SWA/FO]

On a side note, finally got a call back from TO and the big picture is starting to come into view.

I'm all ears!!!!

 

[waveflyer]

Who exactly recalled him?
What's the process? Do all members get a vote? Or just the board? I can't imagine you can take someone who was elected by the pilots and recall him w/o their consent at some point-
That said- and I don't know or want to know his name- (PCL here though, right? )- was a worry- since '07 he's been all about ALPA-- and losing that with this acquisition goes back to a uninformed concern I've had all along: what is alpa national's motivation to facilitate this in a smooth way- a few well placed billable hours and they can create discord in a major competitor's ranks and can stretch this SLI out and keep collecting dues for up to 2 years. It's my understanding that ALPA has spent more $$ on AT than it's collected by a long shot- so why wouldn't they do this? Why not create big expectations? Why not create a "fight" inside every AT pilot? If they "fight", they get more money and divide a Delta(ATL-msp)/ UAL,CAL (california-mdw-den-houston)/usair (phx-las-phl- ohh wait, my bad!! ;-)AS(sea-pdx upcoming -800 spot: HI and alaska)competitor against itself-
It seems they have a responsibility to weaken us as much as possible to the other airline's members.
I hope that ALPA national wants to work with us to strengthen labor- but if another ALPA carrier gets weak and takes financial hits as a company and then contractually- and Wn picks up some of the slack like usair- and alpa has another mutiny....
Again- this isn't based in reality, but my own fears- but if the best alternative is to get AAI pilots on the list unified and receiving Wn wages- why would ALPA want that? At the very least they'd be expediting the cutoff date for their dues.