joek

Same thing at PSA. Lots of b@@@@ing but no one steps up to volunteers.

iFlyRC

One should mention that "volunteering" at ALPA is a full time job, and if you have a family, well guess what comes first?

CBreezy

No. You can't criticize unless you participate it the political process. And if you're really unhappy, you can't complain unless you actually do something to make a difference.

RV5M

My "something" to change ALPA would be to de-certify the union and create RALPA. The person who raised their voice loud enough to make it happen, though, would probably end up "failing" their next AQP or line check, or have a very tough time ever being hired at an ALPA carrier.


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CBreezy

RALPA would be a disaster. There wouldn't be any money for flight pay loss and no continuity in leadership positions due to turnover. You think ALPA has no bite now, go ahead and de-certify ALPA. I'll sit on that sidelines with a bag of popcorn while your "union" devolves into chaos.

Navmode

Just look at all of the mouth-breathers talking about de-certifying. Your wisdom is lost on them. They don't understand that representation and negotiations costs $$, and that we utilize a lot more from Alpa than we put in. But then again I'm talking about the same group that tried to convince themselves that healthcare is cost-neutral.

iFlyRC

So basically the gist is this:
A) Alpa is a good thing, and most regional pilots have no clue just how valuable it is to them?
B) It is up to the individual pilot groups to elect "qualified" people into positions in their local councils and MEC.
C) If you are unhappy, volunteer and/or run for office to make changes in your union.
I think Mesa's union has/had a mixed back of people, from those who truly wanted to make a difference, to those with Stockholm syndrome, to some who were just taking advantage of the position to do anything other than fly an airplane.
Right now would be a good time to place people in the union who care, who will do their job and represent everyone, defend individual pilots no matter how much in the wrong the pilot may have been in, and people who refuse to settle for anything less than industry standard.
As for the new spots in the negotiating committee, we need professionals who are also the most pig headed, stubborn sob's we can find.

Harpyr

+1

There are a number of ways to "start small" so to speak, with volunteering. You can work your way up to chair a committee down the road, if you find you have the desire. You can really make a tangible impact for yourself and your fellow pilots, whether its one at a time by representing them in the CPO, or all at once by representing a base or helping negotiate. And there's a lot of option in between those extremes, too!

deltajuliet

I've met a few such hard nosed ****ed off SOB's applying for the job. Most think mediation is our best shot and that calling a strike vote would apply some pressure too. Sounds like a start.

flapshalfspeed

The entire regional industry is basically a massive ship taking on water slowly. Some of the wholly-owned regional pilots have been wise enough to secure their spots on the limited number of life rafts available. Some of us are plowing away in our seats, and polishing up the logbooks/flying up to the FAR limits to attempt to get ourselves a spot on a life raft also.

With that said, imho, sticking your neck out by running for a top union position is an extremely unwise move, especially if you're sitting in a left seat already. Rational line pilots have a greater incentive to spend their time flying (or enjoying their off days).

Thus, in the end, like all leadership positions, the only people who will step up to run will be:

1) People who are already buddy buddy with flight ops management, who aren't afraid of putting a target on their back being in that office

or

2) People who are lazy, fine with the status quo, live in Phoenix, and want to get paid to not fly and be in their own bed most nights of the month

or

3) People who want check airmen positions, or who see a top leadership position as a check-box on a resume/networking opportunity for mainline jobs

No one falling outside of those categories will run for office--I am very sure of it.

So essentially, the people who will run and win are people who are ok with the status quo. It's a simple self-selection process.