Originally Posted by OccupyRestSeat

I have yet to hear a cogent argument as to how mainline's and regionals' interests can be advanced by an agent that represents both. Can you provide one?

Originally Posted by acl65pilot

If ALPA National negotiated our contracts, and we at the MEC level did not, you would have a point. Administrative and support staff are just that.

If the President did not sign a contract or two, and imposed their will, you would have a point, but they have not, not even the CH11 contracts.

MEC's negotiate their contracts and their futures, and what ATN did by sending that second SLI to their pilots is proof positive that MEC's do not have to nor are they required to listen to the advice from national. They blinked at a game of Texas Hold'em and the best advice would have been to take it to arbitration, but their MEC decided to not test Kelly, and they sent it to MEMRAT. The pilots decided their fate.

Originally Posted by OccupyRestSeat

OK. Assuming you are correct, and national is just a bureaucratic rubber stamp--and completely irrelevant and marginalized.

Than why on Earth do we send money to national for "administrative and support staff" that we can provide ourselves at a fraction of the cost? Why do we send a significant percentage of our dues to be used outside our pilot group, if we're just going to ignore national anyway?

Sounds like you're saying we don't need National to advance our agenda.

Whoops.

Originally Posted by acl65pilot

National works on issues that benefit all pilots that are within ALPA. How about that Cargo Cutout of the FT/DT, ALPA is fighting it, and it is benefit to all pilots. How about the export-import bank crap? ALPA is fighting that, How about rest rules that are based on science and not some arbitrary determination? ALPA is fighting that!

Originally Posted by exeagle

At least someone is making a statement.

Scope - NYC and Charter Flying Slip Further Out of the Delta Pilot Grasp

Several recent announcements by Delta highlight just how poorly ALPA has represented Delta Pilots in the area of job protections and scope.
Upon completing the slot swap with USAir, Delta recently announced a major expansion in the New York market, primarily out of the LaGuardia airport. 110 new routes were announced on December 16th, 2011. Of those 110 new routes, 101 are to be flown by regional carriers and only 9 are to be flown by mainline! 92% of the expansion flying is going to non-Delta pilots!
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND PROPOSED SCHEDULE
This failure to enhance mainline careers is further aggravated by the recent announcement of the proposed charter flying schedule for 2012. Of the 675 charters currently scheduled for 2012, 539 are flown by regional carriers and 136 are flown by mainline Delta Pilots! 80% of the charter flying is to be conducted by regional pilots! The data is available on DeltaNet under charter operations, but it is not suitable for print here.
Once again, it is easy to see how ALPA has effectively promoted the careers of regional pilots while abandoning those of the mainline pilots. ALPA is incapable of reversing this damage due to "Failure to Represent" lawsuits that will come if the regional carriers feel harmed by Delta Pilots demanding that flying return to the mainline.
Only exclusive representation by an independent union such as the Delta Pilots Association has the ability to aggressively return that flying back to Delta Pilots without fear of lawsuits by the regionals. The regionals cannot sue DPA because DPA will not be representing them. Delta Pilot dues dollars will no longer go to paying for lawsuit damages for failures to represent competing pilot groups.
Delta Pilots need separation from competing airlines if we are to regain control of our careers. Encourage those regional pilots who will lose flying to the mainline under DPA to prepare for a vibrant career at Delta. DPA will bring displaced regional pilots into a mainline career as the flying is steadily shifted back. Career regional pilots will become less common under DPA leadership. Gradually, DPA will return all Delta passengers to mainline service. A ticket bought from Delta.com should include a guarantee that no portion of that ticket will be fulfilled by outsourced pilots.
The damage is evident. The solution is clear.

Originally Posted by crewdawg52

A few years ago, all I did was NBA & NHL charters out of DTW on the A319 during the fall and winter months. Great trips. Would the ALPA people please explain how mainline "lost" this flying to rj's.

I'll be watching and reading.

Originally Posted by OccupyRestSeat

I'm confused. Why can't we contract with our own money our own lobbyists (Coalition), to accomplish as much (or more) than ALPA can?

I'm tired of hearing about how much the ALPA lobby "helps" Delta pilots, when ALPA also endorses and funds extremely anti-business / pro-big government politicians. Basically, ALPA (through our dues money!) endorsed the very folks that killed the initial slot swap deal, among many other things.

Delta pilot dues should be used exclusively to benefit Delta pilots. In the process, other pilot groups will benefit. Can we at least agree on that?

Originally Posted by acl65pilot

DAP touts CAPA and that is something that strives for ALPA's clout. So even as an independent, you will be part of a bigger organization that does the DC lobbying.

Originally Posted by OccupyRestSeat

CAPA will far surpass ALPA's clout the moment we join.

Not necessary opposed to joining with a bigger organization for certain purposes if necessary (lobbying) as long as it's lean and limited.

Militantly opposed to sending dues money to fund the bloated, corrupt, and diluted bureaucracy for ancillary BS. Magazine is only the beginning. Wealthy secretaries, fat pay for Moak, housing allowances, car allowances...OUT, OUT, OUT.

Subsidizing regionals...OUT.

Originally Posted by acl65pilot

You see some of the suggested changes that the Exec Board is sending to the BOD? Guess what, all of those things are happening, and at ALPA!!!!!