PCL_128

Are you really stupid enough to believe that ALPA is going to sell off its wholly owned subsidiary to a band of fools at a new independent union that will fail in no time flat? Really? You seriously lack credibility with this kind of nonsense, Carl.

Mr. Rosen is one of the best. All of the others also work at ALPA. Bruce York, Art Luby, Bill Roberts, etc. They come to work at ALPA after having achieved years of experience in labor law and negotiations, because ALPA is the best job out there for labor attorneys. You don't find experienced labor attorneys and negotiators at independent unions. When it comes to arbitrating grievances, they can get by with outside counsel, but their success rates lag ALPA's significantly. ALPA's success in arbitration is about double the labor average in this country. When it comes to Section 6 negotiations, everyone comes to ALPA for assistance, because they can't do it themselves. Of course, splinter unions like USAPA get no assistance from ALPA, and they'll be mired with a bankruptcy era contract forever. The DPA would be no different. You'll have no experienced RLA negotiator. No one who knows how to deal with the NMB. No one with connections at the White House or in Congress. You'll be all alone. Not a good prospect in Section 6.

And you REALLY don't know Seth Rosen if you think he'll leave ALPA. He's worked at ALPA since 1971.

You should study the law a little bit more. Nowhere in the Act does it require the NMB to release you to strike. The NMB's charter is two-fold: 1) Prevent disruptions to air and rail commerce, and 2) Assist in resolving labor/management disputes in the air and rail industries. They won't take an action that would violate that first mandate unless they feel that it is the way to a deal. In the case of the APA/AMR, they will never release the APA until they adjust their demands, because the NMB knows that there won't be an agreement reached if there is a strike, because the APA's demands are unsustainable for AMR, and no AMR executive will agree, no matter how long a strike drags on. A disruption to commerce occurs, and there is still no resolution to a dispute. That's not how the NMB and the RLA work. If you don't come with what the NMB considers to be realistic demands, then you aren't getting release. Period.

Congress typically gets involved and imposes the PEB's terms if the parties still can't agree after the PEB's recommendations are issued. If the President issues a PEB, you can pretty much bet that there won't be a strike under any circumstances.

tsquare

Nope.. you are absolutely right. I don't know him. But I do know lawyers.. and they are cut from exactly the same cloth... ALPA's been a cash cow.. and when that cow runs outta milk.. he'll move on. Just like anybody else would. Nothing really unique to lawyers there.. but he will go too... especially if he sees the end of the legacy involvement in the cow... which may be coming.......

But I have apparently worked for ALPA since 1991. I just figured out that it is taking my money 20 years before Mr Rosen did.. and giving me little in return whereas they give him money. On second thought.. how much do they pay him again? I'll bet it is far more than any captain on the property makes by a factor of... well.. more than 1 anyway.

tsquare

PCL.. you're priceless!

PCL_128

Seth is past retirement age. He keeps working side projects for ALPA after his retirement because he believes so strongly in the Association. He easily could have left ALPA many times during his career to make far more money at a management law firm, but he instead stayed at ALPA to do the work that he believes in. You may know some lawyers, but you certainly don't know Seth or his motivations.

JoeMerchant

I know Seth...In 1998, we went to Randy Babbitt and asked that Seth be removed from our negotiations at ASA as he was more of a hinderance than a help. All he could tell us was that we were asking for too much...After he was removed, we ended up getting more than Seth said a "regional" could get....I'm not surprised you are impressed by Seth.....

tsquare

Here is a classic post that goes right to the heart of the matter. You pom pom wavers seem to believe that we have the ultimate team up there in Herndon. They are irreplaceable... they are beyond fault... NOBODY can do ANYTHING without their help... Thank God they are there... To put it in a football context.. it is not about what you did yesterday/last year/in 1971... it is what are you gonna do for me NOW... There is a website called firecoachmeyer.com. The man won 2 national championships.. and there is a movement to get rid of him... why should we expect less from an organization that has never won a national championship yet continues to hang around? NOBODY at alpa national is irreplaceable.... nobody. And if they don't realize that, it is all the more reason to send them packing.

scambo1

Spot on T;

The "irreplaceable" arguement only holds water with the ignorant. Everyone everywhere is replaceable and actually should be replaced to get fresh blood flowing.

Pineapple Guy

Spot on scambo.

And we might want to remember that the next time we talk about C2K+cola as the minimum we're willing to accept.

capncrunch

This scares me if it's true.

The majority of us want to believe that we have hardened bat swinging negotiators heading in there to do our bidding. Not some kittens telling us we are asking for too much.

capncrunch

There are plenty of people in this world that will go to a negotiating table for us and kick tail. The idea that this is the only man for the job is ridiculous.

Plus, from what I've read above, we don't even want that kitten.