FlyingViking

First of all, thanks for the compliment. If in fact we do get a group together that will work for Delta pilots, and Delta pilots only, you can count me in. The commute to ATL would in fact be much better for me. As for our current union, I think there has been far too many bloopers, far too many mistakes, and too much loss of faith for it to be a successful outcome as to best for all Delta pilots.

acl65pilot

I still have hope for a successful outcome.

I guess it comes with the fact that I have worked with a few of the National guys and some of the Committees that help the line pilot. There is a lot of good that this union does that 99% of the rank and file never need nor know about, but once you see it in action, you will see the political issues as something that needs to be dealt with to save the true vale of the union.

I agree that there are many things we need to do at the national level to refocus our attention on the line pilot. It needs to be done for ALPA to survive. If DAL decides to leave, ALPA is deal. They know it and we know it. That 800 pound gorilla can get a lot done with that knowledge.
Lets wait and see. I think that getting a bunch of guys together from across the union to look at how we could redo a few things here and there would be a major benefit.

I do not think that ALPA is dead, and in fact think that if we do vote in a in-house union, not much will change. We may have more cash on hand, but in the end it is the pilot of DAL that run our union. National has some say and I do not think that anyone is naive enough to think otherwise, but in reality we have become the majority of national, so there will be some changes.

I could be wrong, and we will see nothing change, and at that time, you may be correct.

FlyingViking

Make no mistake about it, ALPA has a lot of good blood in it. There is many die hard Delta pilots that has put a lot of work in to the benefits we all harvest now, and I am grateful for their accomplishments. However, I do believe that a union fighting for our benefits, and our benefits only, will have a much better chance of success than a union representing pilots from all sort of airlines, including our own competition. It is kinda like the difference between efficiency and effectiveness. If given the real numbers I would like to make a graph showing our compensation / benefits over the last 10 years. One graph showing the top senior pilot, one showing the most junior, and one showing the CEO. This graph will clearly show the performance of a union. If or when we do decide to benefit ourself again, I am more than ready to put a lot of work in to it. In the meantime, I hope you are correct and that the trend of lousy communication, lousy deals, and a loosing trend will turn around to our benefit. I have a feeling that with enough people like yourself in there, we might have a chance to keep ALPA but a LOT of work lays ahead... Big question then is: is it worth it, or will it be better to start with a blank sheet?

acl65pilot

In the end it is for the pilot of Delta to decide, not the reps.

As for the communication and transparency, I will work as hard as I can against the wall many feel they are pressed against to get communications improved. I cannot do it alone. I ask for your help and anyone else who wants our careers better to get involved on some level. It does not have to be a second job for you, it could be a few hours a month at home.

We need cost effective ideas that make sense. Like I said, think about it. I am trying to get more involved as you know, because at the end of the day, I think that there is change that I can affect. If I fail at least I tried. It will allow me to go forward knowing that I stepped up for this group to try and make a difference.
The best thing people can do is educate themselves on the issues. Talk to the other pilots in the crew room, debate on this board, and ask questions. If that does not satisfy you, get involved. It is mainly the reason I am.

Ferd149

ACL,

Why do you think there is so little info that comes out of the MEC meetings. The old NMEC may of been a disfunctional mess, but there was an update out every night of the meeting and a big message shortly after the meeting was over.

Is it because everything goes through the lawyers?

This MEC seems to run smoother, so I would think the updates would be even easier.

Ferd

acl65pilot

Simple question and one I do not know the answer too. Did you communications chair do the updates himself or was it delegated? Either way did the person responsible fly the line normally.
Ours does as far as I can tell, and does these updates on the overnights. He is flying today and hopes to have it out shortly.

I really do not know the answer, and I am just guessing.

I would assume everything goes though the lawyers. I mean my god there are people that would sue DALPA, and this web board is proof that all publications are avail for public consumption. Therefore I understand some of the paranoia.

Ferd149

I assume they were on FPL, but I never thought about it. Good point. I had the feeling that both communications guys were at the meeting but I don't know for sure.

We did get a lot of stuff from the MEC back in the day, but then guys complained it was propaganda I could never be the communication guy, and my poor spelling has nothing to do with it

Ferd

tsquare

Thanks Mucho.....
Now you know why "Layla" is undergoing a resurgence of popularity in East Tennessee.

Bucking Bar

How about UNITY ?

We simply stop subdividing our flying and selling it for pennies on the dollar.

I'm not talking about a B scale. We would not treat pilots differently due to their date of hire. How about paying those small jets what the market will bear, as we do everything else from the DC9 to the 747?

acl65pilot

I have been for doing that for a long time. People want a solution to the National problem now. You can give that to them by recapturing the flying.

How?
Well first you need the group willing to do it, and then you need leadership that is willing to do that. Yes, bar taking the flying back takes care of the conflict at National. We both know that the would is not that simple though. So first a battle dressing and that will allow us time to get the situation to the hospital so we can triage it.