FDXLAG

You gotta admit those * signs everywhere but AT&T park are pretty funny.

rjlavender

DL

You nailed it, especially the part I underlined above. And, you nailed it not because of what I said, but, either because you have lived the airline "dream" first-hand, or you are just bright. What many pilots see as a strength, everyone else sees as our greatest weakness and liability. Management is wringing its hands in glee that we refuse to update our business practices. It's too easy.

You are also right that, "Duane" had no clue about the dynamics involved in this. On the other hand, I think that John Prater does understand it (I have spoken with him on several ocassions and he has met with a leadership/management expert whom I recommended). In fact, I think that Dave Webb is figuring it out. But Prater is swimming against a Tsunami in achieving change. Not only do people not like change, but the ALPA's delay in implementing needed strategic changes has made it impossible for ALPA to catch up. It is way behind the power curve.

Have a great day and thank you for your comments.

Bob

rjlavender

For everyone in the world (except pilots,) "seniority" is a political system--it, essentially, means, "first hired, last fired," and it protects against political favoritism. It works well. However, during the "regulated" period of airline history, pilots turned seniority into an "economic system." Even back then, it never made economic sense to allocate compensation on the basis of date-of-hire, but it was not a problem because everyone had the same career expectations: One was hired at 23-30 year of age, stayed at the same place for 30 years, and retired with money in the bank. Everyone was on the same page, so to speak.

Now, however, many pilots are on their their own page and, to make things more fair across the board, our system of compensation must have much more flexibility and choice than the traditional notion of seniority can provide. So, definitely, keep seniority as a political system, but understand its severe limitations when it comes to figuring out who is worth how much.

Excellent insight on "bottom up" negotiations.

Bob

FR8Hauler

Bob, I could almost respect what you have to say if you had not been leaching off me and my family for the last ten years. Pay your dues and join ALPA.

rjlavender

Beautiful. This is precisely the kind of erroneous, fabricated, and mean-spirited information that has caused the American people to lose respect for unions. It is exactly what Bob Chimenti was talking about in his email and it is an important factor in the collapse of Labor and ALPA. If writers are going to publish on a public board, they should at least get the simpliest facts straight. ALPA was the beneficiary of my dues and efforts long enough. It had its chance. And, the argument that "ALPA is awful but it's all we got," does not cut it with me. It is time for something new.

More to the point: Most FedEx pilots have not fought even one battle, much less a Labor war, to account for any benefits that they enjoy. Around here, it's mostly talk. All current pilot benefits were either won or protected by the warriors that went before them at other carriers, especially at Continental where the strike lasted for two years and cost the strikers their jobs, benefits, and, literally, hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost compensation. When it comes to paying dues, my friends, that is the real thing.

I will be interested in seeing exactly how much in "dues" FedEx pilots are willing to contribute in order to rectify just the optimized pairings, not to mention the other larger issues that are bringing the profession down. What are you going to do about it? When it comes to trip quality and management benevolence, isn't the Flight Crew Handbook starting to look awfully attractive about now?

It is time for a lot of people to take an objective look at what is going on in their profession. ALPA's strategic failures are indisputable. It brings me no joy to say that ALPA has become a reactionary organziation whose actions are almost entirely dicated by outside influences. As a result, employees are now working at the mercy and benevolence of management. Pilots could not pull off even one adequate response when pensions were being lost at multiple ALPA carriers. What more evidence is needed to demonstrate that the program is not working?

I like it when contributors come up with something creative, uplifting, and useful on this board. Let's have more of that.

Bob

FLMD11CAPT

non-member.............end Of Thread.

rjlavender

As I said, it's all talk, no action. As one can again see, the only creative ideas are coming from outside of ALPA...and the Labor movement, for that matter.

Until that changes, dues money, from my vantage point, is far better invested in productive endeavors.

Bob

FlyByNite

Then why don't you come up with a check, uplift it to the union, and make yourself useful. Until then, your opinion is drivel. If your "integrity" won't allow you to be a member, then you can be a non member on dues checkoff.

eFDeeeX

True.

Keep justifying bob...some day you may actually believe what you are saying.

rjlavender

In order to upgrade the quality and crediblity of contributions to this board, I suggest that anyone who chooses to criticize rather than contribute something of value state their true name and their qualifications to make critical statements on a given subject. This will permit others to more fairly judge the value of the comments. People know who I am and where I have been. You can do it too.

In America, thoughtful people generally devalue criticism offered under the cloak of anonymity. It's cheap talk; anyone can do it. Let's demonstrate a little spunk and take some risk so that our messages will be taken seriously.

Truly, this is an opportunity to begin enhancing the status of our profession. If you have the courage to do this, please step forward. If you do not have it, then demostrate it by continuing to write anonymous notes. We will understand.

Bob