Whidbey

I’ve read all of the back and forth between the two camps regarding ALPA and DPA for some time now, and I thought I’d throw in my two cents.

I’ve heard the DPA guys criticize ALPA guys for things like expensive secretaries, flight pay loss, etc. Personally, I have no problem with seeing the guys that volunteer to help out with our union getting some fair financial compensation. I am also happy for my union dues to support a professional full time staff necessary for the administration of the union. To think that the career will be best supported without any presence in D.C. is foolhardy to say the least. The DPA criticisms of the financial efficiency of ALPA do not in any way sway me to support DPA.

There are many criticisms of DPA that I believe have validity. Standing up a new organization heading into a contract negotiation is a daunting and risky task to say the least. I’m certain there is a wealth of knowledge and experience at ALPA that, properly brought to bear, could be a great asset to our labor group for C2012. At this time, DPA has only a small fraction of the resources at their disposal that ALPA does.

Both sides of this debate (on APC and elsewhere) are guilty of ad-hominem attacks against the other side. Such attacks are not constructive. Lee Moak and T.C. are both human. There isn’t a person at Delta Air Lines without something in their background that could be used to attack their credibility. The DPA using the word “thug” to describe the conduct of ALPA during their surge week does not sway my support to DPA. When ALPA supporters throw around the “Scab” label as a weapon against DPA supporters, it does them great discredit. In my mind, DPA and ALPA, L.M. and T.C., etc., all deserve the benefit of the doubt from the rest of us that they have what they feel are the best interests of Delta Air Lines pilots in their hearts. They just disagree on the best way to pursue those interests.

My position on our representation hinges on my observations below.

A labor union is an advocacy organization. I’m new to the airline business, but when I was told that the union that represented Delta Pilots was the same union that represented the regional carriers, I about fell out of my chair. The people who are put in positions to advocate for a person or group as a labor union does must be carefully protected from having to resolve any competition or conflicts of interest between those they represent. What exactly constitutes a “conflict of interest” is of much debate on APC. I think the following from Wikipedia is instructive.

“A conflict of interest (COI) occurs when an individual or organization is involved in multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation for an act in the other.”

The fact that ALPA national takes money from the very labor groups that exploded in the last ten years while mainline pilots were decimated by furloughs and bankruptcy, in my opinion, means they have a clear conflict of interest. Some on APC outline the structural safeguards of the DALPA councils that are designed to make DALPA by and for Delta Pilots. I am sure these structures are successful to varying degrees. However, as water finds it’s level, money will always find its way to influence.

It’s what I do not hear from ALPA in all of their emails and publications that lead me to believe they are engaged in a tightrope act of balancing the interests of mainline pilots on one hand and the regional carriers on the other.

I want my union to fiercely represent the interests of mainline pilots. I want a union that will call a spade a spade and blow the whistle on outsourcing and what it has done to this profession, instead of compromising itself by seeking the membership (and dues) of those who are willing to undercut it’s members. I want a union that does not have to engage in horse trading of interests of those it represents, and that does not have to publish only carefully crafted rhetoric so as not to offend any of it’s members who have interests that are diametrically opposed to mine.

It may be possible ALPA can be fixed. In spite of the many criticisms I’ve read and considered, I do consider DPA a viable alternative. I do think at this time the best way to improve our representation is to bring it to a vote.

To that end, I have submitted a DPA card.

V/R,

Whidbey

satchip

Why does it matter? Do you derive your self worth from making more than anyone else? The Buddha said, "Money is like water, try to grab it and it flows away, open your hands and it will move towards you".

Elvis90

I've got 4 kids to feed and send to college, so...yes, I would like better pay. Jesus said, "The workman is worthy of his wages."

satchip

I'd like better pay too, but I don't derive my happiness from it. The OP asked how one could be happy knowing you made less than a SWA pilot.

satchip

Interesting Scripture quote, 1 Timothy 5:18. In context, however, it weakens your argument.

The scripture tells us that “the workman is worthy of his hire” (1 Tim. 5:18). Consistent with the revealed heart of God, this means that our wages should be “fair” for what the work and worker’s productive skills require. This equation is elemental, but it is worth repeating since wage negotiations have two components: the worker’s ability to meet their real needs and the employer’s ability to pay and remain in business. Wages must be “fair” in that regard. What return does the employer deem “reasonable” to remain in the risk and responsibilities of ownership? What wage is the employee asking for in terms of their resource commitments, and is this task being asked to support all their needs or only a portion of them?

The “free market” works as long as both sides of the negotiation are responsible. The employer must care enough for their employees so as to meet their needs with dignity and a desire to empower them, and the employee cannot demand wages that make the employer’s business untenable. A market is only truly “free” when neither greed nor coercion is driving either side of the equation. Once again we see that, ultimately, economics is much more about spiritual values than simple numbers. When greed drives the market, in the long run, God intervenes in some form or fashion to mitigate against the imbalances.

In the interests of full disclosure, the above is not my work. You can find the full discussion here, The Three Major Components of Biblical Wage Negotiations - In the Workplace Faith & Work Articles

Carl Spackler

Great post Whidbey. I appreciate your thoughtful analysis.

Carl

DAL 88 Driver

It's not about "self worth" or any other such psychobabble. It's about what is appropriate compensation for what we do. SWA's pay is at a level that is at least in the ballpark of the type of compensation most of us expected when we got into this profession. Nice try, though, grasshopper.

satchip

When you say "how can you be happy making less than SWA" you aren't making a rational argument based on economic worth. Happiness is an emotional, existential state. Ultimate happiness is only achieved by overcoming craving in all forms, according to Buddhist philosophy. Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.

80ktsClamp

What he means by "how can you be happy making less than Southwest makes" is not an emotional happiness. It means that Southwest profitably pays their pilots that much (the market very much supports it), therefore the market can support us making at least the equivalent. As a professional that believes one should be paid fair market value, I can logically follow that we are paid significantly less than we are worth.

Conclusion: Why accept pay, workrules, and outsourcing rules that are so much less than market value?

As a follow on- Sure we have more infrastructure, but they cannot command business class and international fares either.

DAL 88 Driver

Thank you. Saved me a whole bunch of typing!