Prater Must Resign!!

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Actually, he would make a good Santa!!

He needs to grow the beard... and work on his ho ho ho...

Not really, but if you need to believe that... The Jews were bad too....

Huh?

The Nazi's made the Jews out to be an excuse to run thier political and military machine...

It sepends on what the membership expectations are... I can assure you they are only thinking about their world and what is best for them the individual.

Depends on how well the union manages these expectations.

Well which is it? Should the membership manage thier expectations or should the leadership?

Should the membership particapte in self government of their careers?



They did Rez!! This statement is correct:

"With clear instructions in three separate pollings on the retirement age issue, Captain Prater ignored results, influenced the Executive Board and unilaterally changed our union's direction."

Recall a minority particapted in the survey. And what about the get out of jail card free question" if the law was to change should alpa play along"....

Perhaps no one should have answered it... but they did.

In addition, some guys brought Rezolutions to thier MEC. Like PCL128... and it didn't go far... so now what? That is prater's fault...

Finally, ask your EVP about the gov't affairs briefing.

You know, I think you've got some extra issues with the membership. When you served, you wanted to feel real special, didn't you? It really bothered you that when you put yourself out there your pilot group wasn't cheering your name. You need to get over it!! In it's purest form, this [union] work is really easy. You listen. That's all. So, they didn't adorn themselves with stickers and pins paying homage to you? Doesn't mean you ge to go off on some exaggerated, goofy direction.

No..actually, it had to do with the fact that ALPA volunteers step up to do the work and the membership takes them for granted and kicks them hard in the nuts..... all for volunteering... nice huh..

 

[zonker]

I agree. Prater is a disgrace.

 

[Flopgut]

[/color]


Well which is it? Should the membership manage thier expectations or should the leadership?

If the leadership can't accomplish the membership's wishes, then it is the leadership's job. (You know: leadership?)



Recall a minority particapted in the survey. And what about the get out of jail card free question" if the law was to change should alpa play along"....

Perhaps no one should have answered it... but they did.

In addition, some guys brought Rezolutions to thier MEC. Like PCL128... and it didn't go far... so now what? That is prater's fault...

Finally, ask your EVP about the gov't affairs briefing.

Oh I did. I asked plenty of questions. CALALPA is pretty shocked by this.




No..actually, it had to do with the fact that ALPA volunteers step up to do the work and the membership takes them for granted and kicks them hard in the nuts..... all for volunteering... nice huh..

Here is a great secret to remember and apply when possible. This is [almost] right up there with Art of War but better applies to union work and business in general. There are only three rules in union work: Get the money, get the money, and get the money. Nice and simple; All you need to know. Doubt it? Just look at what Prater has done: He got the money!! He got it for the pilots he sent out to get it for. The rest of us thought we were in his equation, but we never really were. And we are probably not in his equation for Open Skies either!!

 

[Flopgut]

Polls aren't allowed by the fascist mods on this board. They've deactivated them.

Oh, I didn't know that. Thanks. So I suppose they would not want me to link a blog poll in here?

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

If the leadership can't accomplish the membership's wishes, then it is the leadership's job. (You know: leadership?)

Is it possible that the leadership knows the way better than the apathetic membership...in general I mean, not Age 60 necessarily...

Oh I did. I asked plenty of questions. CALALPA is pretty shocked by this.

Good... keep em on thier toes..

Here is a great secret to remember and apply when possible. This is [almost] right up there with Art of War but better applies to union work and business in general. There are only three rules in union work: Get the money, get the money, and get the money.

Interesting cause that is the memberships mantra as well.

Nice and simple; All you need to know. Doubt it? Just look at what Prater has done: He got the money!! He got it for the pilots he sent out to get it for. The rest of us thought we were in his equation, but we never really were. And we are probably not in his equation for Open Skies either!!

Who put Prater in power. I went to my MEC and told them who I wanted in office.... It wasn't Prater... but democracy rules... I can live with that...

 

[eaglefly]

Prater will get a raise.....and why not ?

The Herndon Christmas party is going to be EXTRA special this year due to the additional dues from these senior high-wage captains.

Quality Champagne and Cracked Crab.

*tink*...............salute.

Life IS good.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Quite interesting.... when the membership percieves an injustice like President or staff compensation they want to drag those salaries down.... why not figure out how to bring ones own up!

The equvilent would be a Mesa pilot looking at a UAL pilot and calling for that UAL pilots wage to lowered so the Mesa pilot feels better about his own misery.

Back to the Prater recall.....

Even PCL128 knows this is just talk. The reality of recall is too slim. The membership is too unorganized... that is what got them into this situation in the first place...

But the membership via the recall chant is getting involved... rather.... why not get involved proactively. Trying to recall Prater is like trying to fly thru a T-storm. The best way to survive flying thru a T-storm is not to do it in the first place.

You know the ol' saying... Superior pilot knows how to stay out of situations that require superior skill.

Well it will take allot of superior political skill to recall Prater... so why not get involved politically proactively, using average skill, so you don't have to get involved reactively using superior political skill...

After all, it is your career.....

 

[flygirlqt]

Well it will take allot of superior political skill to recall Prater..

Which in itself is a damning view of what ALPA has become. To bad political skill is the required mode instead of popular vote.

 

[Flopgut]

Rez: I want to insist on him resigning. My intention is to bring him to a point of decision: Either get out of office for the overall benefit of the union, or at least SPEAK to the disenfranchised on this issue. You assume low voter turnout on 3 surveys is carte blanche for Prater, it's NOT! If these surveys meant nothing else he should be speaking to his membership and trying to shore up unity at the very least. I'm afraid it's going to become obvious (even to you) that he could give a crap about unity and the membership. He's not going to speak to those disenfranchised, he doesn't care about unity and this will make it easier to get him out of office. (or at least change ALPA behavior) This is going to get worse for him, not better. He passed this in four days less than two weeks before Christmas. It was a sneaky, stupid stunt.

 

[flygirlqt]

Hate to say it and I might catch heat for this, but Prater is a by-product of the CAL scab era. I know he was a striker but....he just doesn't strike me as a leader who's interested in the rank and file. I think he's out for himself and his buddies. A potential for as much as $1,000,000 in extra earnings as a CAL 777 Capt. for himself and his buddies can be hard to overcome.
He took it back alright!!! Another win for the scabs that are left.

Praters additional earnings from this will far exceed an extra $1,000,000 when you consider his outrageous ALPA pay.

I hate to say it, but were the scabs right all along about ALPA but just wrong to cross a picket line?
No flames please but it is a question that has been bothering me, especially after this age 65 action.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Which in itself is a damning view of what ALPA has become. To bad political skill is the required mode instead of popular vote.

I find your perception of what ALPA has become interesting... can you effectively show when this change came about?

Are you serious? popular vote is the best way? movement by the masses? This is what our foundaing fathers intentionally created when they formed our democratic republic which ALPA is modeled. If it is good for our country then why not for our union...

If process by masses where the methodolgies then we would constantly be going is different directions.. in effect going in circles....

The point is .... in order to be effective internally and extenally, one must be effecitve politically.

As we can see.... not being politically effective has yielded a very unhappy membership. The membership cannot expect to be aloof.. only to realize a problem, throw out a solution, expect it to implemented and return to aloofness. There must be organization, otherwise there is too many solutions given and no way to implement.... again we return to political effecteness...

Rez: I want to insist on him resigning. My intention is to bring him to a point of decision: Either get out of office for the overall benefit of the union, or at least SPEAK to the disenfranchised on this issue. You assume low voter turnout on 3 surveys is carte blanche for Prater, it's NOT! If nothing else he should be speaking to his membership and trying to shore up unity. I'm afraid it's going to become obvious (even to you) that he could give a crap about unity and the membership.
He's not going to speak to those disenfranchised, and he doesn't care about unity and this is going to get easier to get him out of office. This is going to get worse for him, not better. He passed this in four days less than two weeks before Christmas. It was a sneaky, stupid stunt.

I agree there are leadership issues. But first you must get the membership organized, so that Prater must recognize a political grass roots movement. Right now he doesn't have to acknowlege Flopgut on FI.

So what is your plan to become politically effective?

 

[LJDRVR]

While I too believe Prater has to go, the vindictiveness directed his way is misspent. We knew what his personal opinion was before he was elected. If you do a little asking around, you'll realize that the MEC from DAL and UAL put John in office because he promised to change the rule.

Here's the clincher: Unless you work at Northwest Airlines or Express Jet, YOUR MEC wrote ALPA a blank check to change the unions stance.

Maybe, in conjunction with posting here, you should be getting involved with your LEC. ALPA throws it's young under the bus, economic realities of senior members paying more dues and wielding more influence won't change because you're mad. What will make us more powerful is us getting involved in the political process, throwing out our current leadership from the bottom up as we go.

Want a real union? get involved!

LJDRVR

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Praters additional earnings from this will far exceed an extra $1,000,000 when you consider his outrageous ALPA pay.

What would it take for you to not be concerned with Praters pay?

I hate to say it, but were the scabs right all along about ALPA but just wrong to cross a picket line?

Not sure if you want to go there... During the Lorenzo era... if ALPA wasn't present.... can you imagine the loss of pay and conditions? Do you recall New York Air?

No flames please but it is a question that has been bothering me, especially after this age 65 action.

You keep wondering why ALPA isn't a pilot's everything? The first question is...HOW can ALPA be a pilot's career everything?

Age 65? The first question is... did ALPA change unilaterally Age 65? What about SWAPA? Who else wanted it changed? Does ALPA make law? Does political effectiveness play a part here?

 

[LJDRVR]

Praters additional earnings from this will far exceed an extra $1,000,000 when you consider his outrageous ALPA pay.

Exactly, flygirl! Over three million dollars by my math.

 

[eaglefly]

Word has it that ALPA has selected the Champagne for the party this year, being an extra special year.

The tree's star is being replaced with a red "65" on the top and Prater's toast will be with a bottle of "Louis Roederer-Cristal 1981" Champagne at $2K per bottle......what the heck, ALPA can afford it.

Apparently, it is said a certain 59 year old U captain who will be attending this years celibratory festivities in Herndon, will be personally delivering the Lobster in his jumpseat on the last leg of his trip (BOS-DCA) ironically bumping an Air Wis F/O trying to get to work.

Life is GOOD in Herndon for the chosen few.