Vetrider -
Correct.....what I should have said was that they removed the reps that represented the majority of the East pilots' views (PHL).
Negotiating space? You're the only West pilot I've ever heard of saying anything like that. Most of your group acts like the Nic is the new starting point and anything less will be a concession, even though no one has yet benefited from the "award."
Certainly we all understand the "end of the gun" reference. East pilots feel like ALPA National has a gun pointed our way.
Either way you look at this, ALPA has done a reprehensible job of dealing with this merger. They continue to screw up, and they even screw up here on this public board by spewing asinine blather and venom (WD).
One of the things that most irritates the average USAPA voter is the continual Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt that ALPA spreads. It seems that's all they have to work with, since their record is so gawdaful. There's that, and then the recent riding on the coat tails of USAPA by saying that "seniority matters." Jesus, ALPA, think of something on your own!
In any case, if AA, SWA, and UPS can do it, then so can we.
The nic is the nic, by negotiating space I mean contractual and implementation issues. The gun I was referring to is the easts "here it is or else" stance. What is the west supposed to say to that?
So far the east has held the whole process hostage because everyone is tip toeing around the decert threat and letting the east get away without being accountable to anyone.
The alpa process would work, if both sides follow through with it. Ultimately, something would be ratified, but how can we know what it is when the east is allowed to pull out? So far we don't know for sure what would ratify and what wouldn't because we haven't seen any voting results. So far we are just taking the east's bluster at face value.
Alpa's process isn't perfect, but it isn't as broken as you are trying to make it out to be. The east's lack of integrity and honor is what is mucking this up. Usapa will not help. Put the gun away, come back to the table, and someday something will come of it.
Oh yeah, get rid of Prater. I firmly believe with a stronger leader at the top, the alpa process in place will bear fruit. Don't laugh, it may take a while, maybe even years, but I believe it will eventually work.
If you think alpa has a gun to your head, should you get usapa, wait till the law, the judge, and the company get to have at you. Alpa is actually molly coddling the east in my opinion, and you guys don't even know it. If you'd collectively quit just stomping your feet and demanding, you might actually figure that out.