SideStickMonkey

This.

They have been shown to be self serving and not for the pilot group at large. Waiting until national elections is too late as these folks can vote themselves into higher positions.

DA got fired himself once for abusing FPL while on a committee. The fact he ever got elected to be a rep astonishes me.

interceptorpilo

What’s wrong with Freedom Flyers? Don’t they just want people to have a control of their own bodies? What am I missing here?

StoneQOLdCrazy

I don't have a personal problem with the "freedom flyers."

However, I also don't want them involved in negotiating my work contract.

Generally speaking, the group seems to be made up of conservatively-minded individuals, with zero regard for unionism, and a complete lack of understanding for unionist principles. That also seems to describe DA. And if a union rep places the freedom flyers agenda above the concept of unionism, that's a problem.

CBreezy

If that were only the case, I'd support their stance. It's not. They want people to prescribe to their world view or be punished. How many freedom flyers claim that any pilot who received the Covid vaccine is a threat and will suddenly have heart issues? I've seen quite a few argue that. What about the C44 chairman's complete opposition toward mental health reforms within ALPA and the FAA?

StoneQOLdCrazy

I forgot about that. Is that where he was coming in to work on the scheduling committee without posting alpa days, using alpa-funded hotels, and then bailing out on the scheudling committee workday if he got called for a good trip?

Essentially, using alpa-funded hotel rooms for a crash pad?

CRJphlyer

I heard that none of the current C44 reps has plans to run again anyway. And that was before this recall. I’m still new here so I don’t have a lay of the political landscape the way some of you do, but I haven’t heard of anyone else even interested in serving as a Rep in C44.

As for the current reps, I haven’t had many interaction with them. DDA (I think we’re talking about the same person here) has been helpful and informative though and I’ve spoken to him a couple of times. Haven’t talked with any of the rest of them except in occasional passing in the crew room while they’re sitting at the ALPA table.

I don’t know, the PMRC stuff just doesn’t get me all hot and bothered like it does for some of you. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I think most of our ALPA people work pretty hard to get things done, even if they aren’t always vocal about it with the pilots. If doing the work that the rest of us aren’t willing to do comes with some perks then good for them. It doesn’t bother me in the least and I’m still happy they’re willing to do it. What does full time ALPA work pay now? 100 hours /month? I’ve earned far more than that many months out of even my first year here.

Sorry for the essay, I know I hate reading these things on here sometimes. I guess I’m just not seeing it. I just see some pilots angry about stuff that is logically explained in the C44 PMRC letter that came out months ago. I want good Reps to represent me. But I also think public vilification like this is exactly why a lot of good folks have 0 interest in running.

FangsF15

But you weren’t “out sick” for a year... You were out sick for a few months, and then went on disability for the better part of a year. Big difference in obligation to the company.

I was and am against the ALPA pay raises. But I’ve shared before why I support ALPA pay while Sick. There are Pros/Cons, and checks to (supposedly) ensure it does not get abused. But there are many more instances where being able to serve as a vol while sick or on LTD, is worth doing, IMO.

I also don’t buy the argument against it that it gives ALPA Reps/Volunteers something line pilots don’t get. There are LOTS of things that fall in the category of things Reps/Volunteers get that line pilots don’t. FPL being one of them. Trip drops are another. Clearly, we aren’t going to get rid of them…

I have heard this from a former Sched Committee buddy. If that’s is true, I would expect it to come up in the recall, and be rebutted or validated.


I would also say that today’s C44 comm was pretty disappointing in regards to the recall. Sounded whiny. Especially about losing the $3875 deposit at the Aquarium (why are we spending that kind of our dues dollars on a venue in the first place?), and that the reasons for the recall weren’t shared - ignoring that he tried to impose manufactured reasons to refuse to put it on the agenda in the first place... “Reasons” aren’t a requirement for the agenda item - being a member in good standing is. I’m withholding judgement until I hear the arguments, but have not been impressed thus far with the response.

FangsF15

Probably needs to be said that very few, like Less than 30, folks are on full time FPL, and about half of them are “paid” by the company (Can’t remember that list, but I think the 4 MEC officers, NC Commttee, and a few Committee Chairs, etc. ) . The vast, vast majority of ALPA folks are part time FPL, which can vary widely in monthly use, mostly 4ish days per month. Reps are not on Full FPL.

Viper25

the issues you cite aren’t the big ones for a lot of people such as myself.

-cozy relationship with management
-taking/making bad deals that are harmful to the pilots
-multiple instances of childish and immature behavior
-opposing the C81 recall which those pilots overwhelmingly supported
-EM being AWOL most of the time

among many others. The PMRC is extraneous to these issues IMO

CBreezy

I agree. It's all cumulative for me. It's a steady stream of questionable or outright bad decisions. I saw someone say the chairman had flown like 80 or 90 hours in the last year. In itself, you might be able to shrug your shoulders but as one of like 10 things, you start to question his ethics.