Nice Try Fins...
It is simply a sibling yelling at another sibling..to stop yelling.
I really wish though the RJDC could find away to make thier issues workable...
Your post was really good.
The RJDC litigation is a paternity suit. It is looking for ALPA to recognize ALPA members as their own and then live up to the responsibilities of caring for them just like ALPA's other children are cared for. Admittedly the RJDC is a "problem child" with issues, but its members are still members of the family.
"Brand Scope" is a solution, but not the only solution. The RJDC's idea was to fix the representational problem, then allow the actual elected representatives to do their job. This does effect all ALPA members, including those in the service of the US Air and Northwest brands.
The RJDC can not really force workable solutions. Only ALPA can. The RJDC does not "represent" pilots, ALPA does. But to represent pilots effectively there has to be a balance of powers and a judiciary in ALPA. ALPA has to have a Constitutional structure which allows for MEC's to sort out their problems internally and which protects minority members from predatory actions by larger (or better connected) groups with the goal of improving our profession together.
ALPA effectively locked my MEC out of negotiations which could have prevented the harm ASA pilots are suffering. The RJDC has the tool to blow the locks off the door.
Of course fighting for change is going to get the "terrorist" label thrown at you. But to the British, Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were "terrorists," so was Martin Luthur King. As a very young child I remember my Dad and Uncle calling King a "troublemaker." So be it. History remembers him differently.
Like most folks who fight for change, the leadership of the RJDC is not likely to be thought of fondly in their own time. But as you well pointed out, truth resonates with people and eventually become populism. ALPA has adopted much of the RJDC's platform and I hope it continues in that direction. Also, many of us are either on board, or getting on board at legacy carriers and can begin to teach others that scope solutions which capitalize on ALPA National's ability to reach across MEC lines are not a threat to mainline pilots. In fact, a more inclusive representative structure makes us stronger.
Then, just as you pointed out, what once appeared radical just seems like a good idea once everyone understands that "working together" does not mean giving in to the enemy.
Candidly, even as a RJDC supporter, I wish there were not some of the requests for relief that are contained in the litigation. I completely understand why they have to be there, but now that the harm to ASA and Comair is already underway I think the unsavory bits of the relief are all that is left. I don't know that ALPA will ever have the opportunities it had in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, or 2006 to fix the scope issue.
And for the disclaimer - I don't speak for the RJDC and am not authorized to do so. They write their own stuff. I'm not a Plaintiff.
