Splinter
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2005
- Posts
- 78
Change the Guard!
ALPO uses pattern bargaining, a practice in which collective bargaining at one union is predicated on the outcome of another closely related in time. In other words, ALPO staggers negotiations for its locals so to build on each other. United, Northwest, Delta, etc. all have staggered agreement dates so to allow contract cycles to not overlap; therefore allowing ALPO to base arguments on provisions at other carriers. If United gets a particular trip rig, it's a given that Northwest can afford it also, but let's tweak it a little...and so on. The UAW perfected it and after the UAW just took a $3 billion annual concessions hit at GM, the honeymoon is over.
There is NO WAY on this green earth that ALPA would have allowed ANY of its locals to volunteer a paycut to prevent future losses. Imagine if Delta had accepted concessions the first time they were approached. The annual cost savings could have been built up, retained more cash, and Delta could lean on its creditors saying "even our pilots are doing their part." ALPO wouldn't allow it because it would start a domino effect at other ALPA carriers. There was also INCREDIBLE mistrust of management and for very good reason (golden parachutes). Nevertheless, this is the undoing of ALPA.
Bottom line is this, when you have a positive working relationship between management and a union, there is trust. If SWA or JB management ever needed a rollback in rates, it wouldn't take for hell to freeze over. American proved that even the largest carrier in the world can make it happen, and that is because they did not have a big brother trying to protect its interests at airlines with different seniority lists.
However, ALPA does have the opportunity to reinvent itself and decentralize its focus on ALPA National and concentrate on local efforts. ALPA needs leadership, and it will NEVER come from Woerth's office. How ironic that Woerthless always chastized LCC pilots for downgrading industry wages, and now he would kill to get SWA payrates. Someone called JB a cult? Since when does being happy at work make you a member of a cult?
ALPO uses pattern bargaining, a practice in which collective bargaining at one union is predicated on the outcome of another closely related in time. In other words, ALPO staggers negotiations for its locals so to build on each other. United, Northwest, Delta, etc. all have staggered agreement dates so to allow contract cycles to not overlap; therefore allowing ALPO to base arguments on provisions at other carriers. If United gets a particular trip rig, it's a given that Northwest can afford it also, but let's tweak it a little...and so on. The UAW perfected it and after the UAW just took a $3 billion annual concessions hit at GM, the honeymoon is over.
There is NO WAY on this green earth that ALPA would have allowed ANY of its locals to volunteer a paycut to prevent future losses. Imagine if Delta had accepted concessions the first time they were approached. The annual cost savings could have been built up, retained more cash, and Delta could lean on its creditors saying "even our pilots are doing their part." ALPO wouldn't allow it because it would start a domino effect at other ALPA carriers. There was also INCREDIBLE mistrust of management and for very good reason (golden parachutes). Nevertheless, this is the undoing of ALPA.
Bottom line is this, when you have a positive working relationship between management and a union, there is trust. If SWA or JB management ever needed a rollback in rates, it wouldn't take for hell to freeze over. American proved that even the largest carrier in the world can make it happen, and that is because they did not have a big brother trying to protect its interests at airlines with different seniority lists.
However, ALPA does have the opportunity to reinvent itself and decentralize its focus on ALPA National and concentrate on local efforts. ALPA needs leadership, and it will NEVER come from Woerth's office. How ironic that Woerthless always chastized LCC pilots for downgrading industry wages, and now he would kill to get SWA payrates. Someone called JB a cult? Since when does being happy at work make you a member of a cult?