GerryG
Stirrer of pots
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2004
- Posts
- 147
Take the blinders off
I would submit that many of us on the forum are union pilots and as such our own personal self interests are closely tied to our unions abilities to represent us effectively. An analysis of McCain's record, when focused specifically on his opinions with regard to unions reflects that he has been adversarial to us. Those of us who have flown him also know that he has never displayed any love for pilots. I ask that each of you consider that a vote for this man is a vote for an anti-union agenda...
ALPA’s Presidential Questionnaire - John McCain’s Responses
On February 10, 2008, the John McCain 2008 presidential campaign advised ALPA’s
Government Affairs Department that the campaign’s policy is not to respond to presidential
questionnaires from organizations. This response came after ALPA’s repeated attempts since
September 13, 2007, to secure Senator McCain’s participation in the Association’s 2008
Presidential Questionnaire.
Senator McCain did, however, respond to ALPA’s presidential survey when he ran for President
in 2000. That survey was printed as a special insert in the February 2000 Air Line Pilot.
Realizing that ALPA members are interested in Senator McCain’s current presidential campaign and in the absence
of more current input, the decision was made to post his responses to the questions posed by ALPA in 2000.
Some of the issues are the same on both questionnaires and, despite the lapse of time, it is believed that the
Senator’s responses from 2000 may provide some insight for ALPA members on his positions on several issues
that affect professional airline pilots.
ALPA Survey of Presidential Candidates—2000
Q: Currently, U.S. law prohibits foreign interests from owning or controlling U.S. airlines. Do you believe this
policy should be (a) relaxed, (b) maintained, (c) strengthened or (d) eliminated?
John McCain: I believe this policy should be relaxed. Consistent with the goals of airline deregulation,
liberalized competition and entry in the market should enhance service and lower air fares. I have
sponsored legislation in the past that would increase the permissible level of foreign investment from
25 to 49 percent. The legislation included certain protections, however. The Department of
Transportation would approve such investments only after satisfying requirements about the
reciprocity of the home country of the foreign investor, the promotion of competition, and national
security concerns.
Q: Federal law allows companies to replace their employees who are on strike, seeking better working conditions
and improved wages and benefits. If elected, would you support or oppose changing the law so that employees
can strike without fear of permanently losing their jobs?
John McCain: I fully support the right of workers to express their grievances in the form of an orderly,
legal strike. Even so, when employees choose to take such steps, the law has always balanced the
rights of all concerned by providing employers certain rights. One of those has always been the right
of employers to hire replacement workers.
Q: Foreign airlines are currently prohibited by U.S. law from carrying revenue passengers between U.S. cities, a
practice known as cabotage. Do you believe this policy should be (a) relaxed, (b) maintained, (c) strengthened or
(d) eliminated.
John McCain: I believe that the U.S. policy on cabotage should be relaxed. Foreign airlines could
provide much needed competition on domestic airline routes, which would result in lower fares for
the benefit of consumers. Increased operations of foreign airlines in the U.S. would also promote
employment opportunities for U.S. citizens. Of course, the ability of foreign airlines to serve domestic
U.S. routes should be contingent on the reciprocity of the home countries of the foreign airlines. It is
worth noting that the impetus to relax the U.S. policy on cabotage has probably waned in recent
years, since foreign carriers have been granted the ability to codeshare with U.S. carriers on domestic
routes.
Q: Some managements have asserted that American labor law does not apply to airline flight crews employed by
U.S. airlines when the crews are based overseas or are working exclusively in foreign operations. Do you believe
U.S. citizens performing such jobs should be covered by U.S. labor laws?
John McCain: Before committing to a position, I would need to review additionally any proposal to
mandate legislatively that pilots flying overseas routes for U.S. carriers be covered by the Railway
Labor Act. I admit that I have concerns about the extraterritorial enforcement of U.S. law necessary
in this instance, which oftentimes invites retaliation that is harmful to consumers and company
employees alike.
I would submit that many of us on the forum are union pilots and as such our own personal self interests are closely tied to our unions abilities to represent us effectively. An analysis of McCain's record, when focused specifically on his opinions with regard to unions reflects that he has been adversarial to us. Those of us who have flown him also know that he has never displayed any love for pilots. I ask that each of you consider that a vote for this man is a vote for an anti-union agenda...
ALPA’s Presidential Questionnaire - John McCain’s Responses
On February 10, 2008, the John McCain 2008 presidential campaign advised ALPA’s
Government Affairs Department that the campaign’s policy is not to respond to presidential
questionnaires from organizations. This response came after ALPA’s repeated attempts since
September 13, 2007, to secure Senator McCain’s participation in the Association’s 2008
Presidential Questionnaire.
Senator McCain did, however, respond to ALPA’s presidential survey when he ran for President
in 2000. That survey was printed as a special insert in the February 2000 Air Line Pilot.
Realizing that ALPA members are interested in Senator McCain’s current presidential campaign and in the absence
of more current input, the decision was made to post his responses to the questions posed by ALPA in 2000.
Some of the issues are the same on both questionnaires and, despite the lapse of time, it is believed that the
Senator’s responses from 2000 may provide some insight for ALPA members on his positions on several issues
that affect professional airline pilots.
ALPA Survey of Presidential Candidates—2000
Q: Currently, U.S. law prohibits foreign interests from owning or controlling U.S. airlines. Do you believe this
policy should be (a) relaxed, (b) maintained, (c) strengthened or (d) eliminated?
John McCain: I believe this policy should be relaxed. Consistent with the goals of airline deregulation,
liberalized competition and entry in the market should enhance service and lower air fares. I have
sponsored legislation in the past that would increase the permissible level of foreign investment from
25 to 49 percent. The legislation included certain protections, however. The Department of
Transportation would approve such investments only after satisfying requirements about the
reciprocity of the home country of the foreign investor, the promotion of competition, and national
security concerns.
Q: Federal law allows companies to replace their employees who are on strike, seeking better working conditions
and improved wages and benefits. If elected, would you support or oppose changing the law so that employees
can strike without fear of permanently losing their jobs?
John McCain: I fully support the right of workers to express their grievances in the form of an orderly,
legal strike. Even so, when employees choose to take such steps, the law has always balanced the
rights of all concerned by providing employers certain rights. One of those has always been the right
of employers to hire replacement workers.
Q: Foreign airlines are currently prohibited by U.S. law from carrying revenue passengers between U.S. cities, a
practice known as cabotage. Do you believe this policy should be (a) relaxed, (b) maintained, (c) strengthened or
(d) eliminated.
John McCain: I believe that the U.S. policy on cabotage should be relaxed. Foreign airlines could
provide much needed competition on domestic airline routes, which would result in lower fares for
the benefit of consumers. Increased operations of foreign airlines in the U.S. would also promote
employment opportunities for U.S. citizens. Of course, the ability of foreign airlines to serve domestic
U.S. routes should be contingent on the reciprocity of the home countries of the foreign airlines. It is
worth noting that the impetus to relax the U.S. policy on cabotage has probably waned in recent
years, since foreign carriers have been granted the ability to codeshare with U.S. carriers on domestic
routes.
Q: Some managements have asserted that American labor law does not apply to airline flight crews employed by
U.S. airlines when the crews are based overseas or are working exclusively in foreign operations. Do you believe
U.S. citizens performing such jobs should be covered by U.S. labor laws?
John McCain: Before committing to a position, I would need to review additionally any proposal to
mandate legislatively that pilots flying overseas routes for U.S. carriers be covered by the Railway
Labor Act. I admit that I have concerns about the extraterritorial enforcement of U.S. law necessary
in this instance, which oftentimes invites retaliation that is harmful to consumers and company
employees alike.
