How Can we band together and take it to DC?
06-03-2009, 08:07 AM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2009
Position: What day is it?
Posts: 963
The more I think about it the more I think it would have to be a non profit org that would work off of donations. It would have to not shut out the unions but encourage their support. It would require several officers and a PO box so no one "disappears" when the senate starts to take notice. I do have "sit down" access to at least one Senator. So I know I can get one of them to listen to our case.
I see it going like this. We get pilots on this forum and others to give their address on a website I set up with a log in for each person. We send them a form to sign and send back. We poll everyone as to what kind of regulation they want to see and put it all in a petition that we present via our Senator's and hope they can move it to action. Ie. put it in the "new health bill" and pass it through that way or some other. It could happen. Why the hell not?
I see it going like this. We get pilots on this forum and others to give their address on a website I set up with a log in for each person. We send them a form to sign and send back. We poll everyone as to what kind of regulation they want to see and put it all in a petition that we present via our Senator's and hope they can move it to action. Ie. put it in the "new health bill" and pass it through that way or some other. It could happen. Why the hell not?
I'll see if I can find the link.
06-03-2009, 08:13 AM
#12
Banned
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Posts: 8,350
The idea DOES have some merit. It's time to eliminate the "us and them" mentality within the profession. If a single list were to become reality, ALL seniority would have to be of equal value (mainline and regional alike) so any 15,000 captain (or 20 years seniority) has the same proetections and opportunities as any other.
Ahhh.......it'd never work. The "us and them" ( or "have and have not" - take your pick) mentality is too ingrained and thus our continued downfall is assured. We are where we are because of our own mentality and we will go where we are now destined to go.
If only we could go back 15 years in time.
Ahhh.......it'd never work. The "us and them" ( or "have and have not" - take your pick) mentality is too ingrained and thus our continued downfall is assured. We are where we are because of our own mentality and we will go where we are now destined to go.
If only we could go back 15 years in time.
06-03-2009, 08:23 AM
#13
Banned
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Posts: 8,350
I think this may already be in the works. There was something on the press wires right after the Colgan NTSB hearings about something between the Business Travellers Coalition and the Teamsters calling for developing some kind of policy that covered the whole range from experience to pay.
I'll see if I can find the link.
I'll see if I can find the link.
Anything more then that approximation is HIGHLY unlikely. Yes, it appears some may use this to further their own financial agendas and leverage to gain more at the bargaining table, but most travelers are not in unions, are generally anti-union and consider many pilot groups fairly greedy (right or wrong) and thus wouldn't be interested in that. The politicians know who has more clout with them (big business) and would have to appease a workable solution for them.
The primary motivation for politicians to enact change will be to :
A. Look good to the public and their consitituents.
B. Consider the needs of those that have sway with them (big business).
C. Consider the cost to the taxpayers.
D. Not unduly burden the consumer (in this case passenger) by excess.
E. The interests of airline employees (very distant 5th here).
Any changes that do come will be fairly modest.
06-03-2009, 09:02 AM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Posts: 754
The Railway Labor Act.
"The unions" are made up of pilots. IF the pilots as a whole want to do something, they collectively can either compel their elected/appointed leadership to do their wishes OR change leadership and get somebody in who will. Either way, it starts with a ground-swell movement from within each pilot group, one member at a time.
Until that time when the majority of pilots get totally fed up and are willing to put their careers on the line...apathy from within the ranks will continue to rule, pilots who refuse to educate & inform themselves will continue to have unrealistic expectations of their union and union leadership, and people will continue to bypass the ideals of brotherhood and unity for "what is best for me - now".
In its most basic form, consider it a failure of leadership...the movement you desire requires membership and leadership willing to make great personal sacrifices for the good of the profession and collective and take great risk with their careers and families. Are you volunteering?
"The unions" are made up of pilots. IF the pilots as a whole want to do something, they collectively can either compel their elected/appointed leadership to do their wishes OR change leadership and get somebody in who will. Either way, it starts with a ground-swell movement from within each pilot group, one member at a time.
Until that time when the majority of pilots get totally fed up and are willing to put their careers on the line...apathy from within the ranks will continue to rule, pilots who refuse to educate & inform themselves will continue to have unrealistic expectations of their union and union leadership, and people will continue to bypass the ideals of brotherhood and unity for "what is best for me - now".
In its most basic form, consider it a failure of leadership...the movement you desire requires membership and leadership willing to make great personal sacrifices for the good of the profession and collective and take great risk with their careers and families. Are you volunteering?
This is it!
Guys, before we can fight all the small battles and issues we have to get some leverage. As of right now, nobody listens to us! All we are doing now is screaming for change with our hands tied on our backs. If we had the same ability to strike as everyone else we could fight our battles and change the industry for the better. Read up on the RLA, write your congressman or come up with a suggestion to free us from the inhibitions and delays that the RLA puts on our ability to protest. You owe it to yourself.
We cannot ask congress to make the changes for us, but we can ask them to let us fight a fair fight.
06-03-2009, 09:55 AM
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2008
Posts: 999
