The Profession: What to do, Opportunity, and nowhere else to go but up(?).

[CFIT]

From my position ALPA is too fat and basically powerless.

When the ALPA president is getting around a half a million a year in compensation, and a fat pension, it is wrong. It makes getting the position a benefit instead of a responsibility.

The ALPA grab at the 401K issue was wrong.

And if they want to grab more of the regionals then the board must include them instead of one token VP.

Powerless, the RLA virtually strangles any strength of being a union. Airline managers know this and realize the strength that it is. It essentially kills any kind of wildcat action, which in todays age of alter ego production, means the ultimate weapon (strike) is useless.

But if ALPA wasn't the business model that it has become (ya it's a business) then they wouldn't worry about a fine. The problem is they have emassed so much financial strength that it becomes a target for punitive action if any faction says "screw it, were all calling in sick".

If it ever goes back to being a real union, with job actions and wildcat activity, then it will be worth it.

And I'll support it and help get it on the property.

But when it bones the regionals (conflict of interest), compensates Prater way too much, and can't risk getting fined, it's really just an expensive club with a glossy magazine.

 

[jmreii]

I hope the airline piloting profession can have some of its luster restored, I really do...but unless Obama can turn the economy around in time to take advantage of both lower oil/fuel costs and the multitude of amendable CBAs, there won't be much to be "taken back" by ALPA.

The only reason the oil is lower is the lack of demand in the states and around the world. It is a lot like taking your foot of the gas pedal, the engine is sensing a lack of demand for more fuel. The engine in this case is the economy which is sucking air like a vacuum leak.
Gasoline could eventually drop below a dollar a gallon in some places, but you still need a job to pay for it.

 

[waveflyer]

what's up box office? what would your solution be?

 

[Thurman Merman]

International travel is down signaling the overseas job probability as not so possible. Who wants to move overseas in this dwindling job market?

The Profession haters on this board (we all know who you are) are running out of utopic places to tell pilots where to run to and from our Profession.

All the while, back here in the good ol' USA, opportunity is presenting itself. Only starry eyed and suicidal (Jonestown-ish?) McCain supporters can justify how he would be good fro the profession. Fact is not only is Obama friendly towards labor, he enthusiastically supports it. With so many appointments to be made that will effect the Profession, DOL, DOJ, FAA, NMB, TSA, etc., it is quite a pleasant tailwind.

In addition, never before in airline history have so many CBA's been amenable at the same time. The ability with a Pro Labor Administration, to simultaneously strike or threaten to strike is powerful leverage.

The Perfect Storm hit us in Sept 2001 and kept on battering us till 2007. Management leveraged that storm against us, took advantage of us and decimated the profession.

Is the our Perfect Storm brewing?


We can't point to the global market place anymore and say 'look at those great jobs'. Seems like we are stuck in the good ol USA with our own profession.


What to do?


So do you shrug your shoulders and say whatever? Or do you become a part of this opportunity to restore and promote Our Profession?

Do you leave it up to the same ol' usual union volunteers, the good ones and the bad ones? Or do you man up yourself and work, just a little bit, using the leverage of our Perfect Storm?

As Americans, do we stay engaged in democracy or do we return to apathy and hope the White House figures out what we want and need?

As professionals, who controls our Profession?

The choice is ours.

Get ready for non-discretionary ballots...
Good thing I'll be overseas in Japan for 3 1/2 years flying on "MAINLAND" routes.

 

[contrail67]

Yeah!.....Did we give up when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

I take it History class did not go well for you so you became a pilot.

 

[Andy Neill]

I take it History class did not go well for you so you became a pilot.

1. See post #14.
2. Watch Animal House
3. Come back and report what you have discovered.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtP3whUbgZE&NR=1

 

[Frank Lorenzo]

In addition, never before in airline history have so many CBA's been amenable at the same time. The ability with a Pro Labor Administration, to simultaneously strike or threaten to strike is powerful leverage.

The Perfect Storm hit us in Sept 2001 and kept on battering us till 2007. Management leveraged that storm against us, took advantage of us and decimated the profession.

So how did us management types take advantage of you?

You had the right to strike when the bankruptcy contracts were forced upon you. In fact, I recall ALL SORTS of bluster by the UAL, NWA, and DAL MEC's to strike if management tried to impose a contract on them.

So for all of the threats and hot air, which one of those pilot groups stood up for the profession? Which one stood up for their dignity? Which one followed through on their empty threats?

So much for management taking advantage of you. Take a look in the mirror for the real perp.

Sorry buddy, but you're going to need more than the Messsiah to save you. I am already busy consulting with fellow airline managers on what I am calling "Frankies lowered expectations tour." We will be cranking out all sorts of gloom and doom to the pilots, reassuring them another trip to bankruptcy court is right around the corner.

By the time voting comes around, we should have the "I'm just happy to have a job" vote at or above the 51% we need.

 

[Max Powers]

What we need to HOPE for is 95% of Americans use their $1,000 Obama tax credit to buy an airline ticket, a new car, and pay the mortgage.

Great plan Mr. Spread the wealth around.

Let's all HOPE taking earned money from the rich will give us that warm fuzzy feeling we are all looking for.
Pretty sure this is the anger stage of recovery.

It's more than that nimrod.......And I don't mean more money I mean more will change......When your next in White Plains and there are 10 hawkers lined up in front of you with about 14 execs total on board between all ten planes. You won't have to say gee I wonder if it is fair that my passengers are paying about 30-40 percent of their ticket price in taxes WHILE THE RICH EXECS PAYS ABOUT 3 PERCENT

With a progressive tax based hoepfully put into place it will mean finally Corporate aviation will be forced to pay at least a portion of their fare share. This will help lift the burden the airlines are being forced to pay.

And yes my numbers aren't exact but they are used to get the point across.

 

[JoeMerchant]

Just keep thumping your chest Rez, eventually SOMEONE will make you the leader you dream to be by following you off the ALPA cliff.

....Rez is a legend in his own mine...Get with the program Box Office...Put on your pom poms.....Gosh darn't you can do it and people like you....

 

[Willy21]

And yes my numbers aren't exact but they are used to get the point across.

Anybody can make up numbers to get their point across. Come with facts and then you can really make strides at getting your point across.

 

[Thurman Merman]

Why are the US industries in the most trouble unionized?

ALPA is a joke that no one is laughing at anymore. The concept was and still is good. They need to trim the fat and go back to the basics. The "MEN" who founded ALPA's jobs were not working for ALPA. Look at the great group of guys that founded them along with their intention and take heed.

ALPA and Obama are similar in that they want to throw out and "CHANGE" everything the respective founding fathers created. And in the very least, both want your 401K.

 

[GogglesPisano]

Why are the US industries in the most trouble unionized?.

Wall Street is unionized?

 

[Thurman Merman]

Wall Street is unionized?

Wall Streets not an Industry. They are on whole other level of corruption.

 

[Scope out RJ's]

....Rez is a legend in his own mine...

What's a mine? Does it explode when it is stepped on or does it produce some sort of coal/diamond?

Get with the program Box Office...Put on your pom poms.....Gosh darn't you can do it and people like you....

Or we could get with the joemerchant program. Join the rjdc - sue the world. Or try to steal the seniority of other pilots at other carriers, get stuck in a go nowhere career, and of course the ever popular, date a fat chick!:laugh:

 

[Max Powers]

Anybody can make up numbers to get their point across. Come with facts and then you can really make strides at getting your point across.

Yes the number are not exact but they are very close. If your so closed minded to not see what is really happening to this country you should leave it.

Convincing a man of a truth when his job depends upon a lie is not easy.