People which are grinding axes so hard it becomes obsessive should simply be pitied and, for the most part, ignored.
ALPA is not perfect just as our own nation's democratic system isn't perfect <stand-by for internet nerd explanation that our system of government is really a republic>
A union is only as good as the people who make up its membership. Those who sit on their butts and wait for big brother to swoop in and save them are going to be disappointed. Many of the pilots at TWA and MidWest understand this process, but both of these unfortunate airlines have more than a few malcontents who need someone other than themselves to blame, so they rant about how ALPA, and only ALPA, screwed them.
Couldn't agree with you more, D.W. The organization and its staff are a wonderfully talented group that live, eat and breathe to help pilots. They are the best. Left to their devices, they can and would do a wonderful job. Where the problem has evolved over the years has been the elected officials. Some, like Bencke, J.J. O'Donnell and others, truly understood how the organization needed to be forward thinking in a global perspective. Others, including Bencke in his later years, forgot the focus and instead became more focused on personal political agendas like protecting their own carriers.
This was the post deregulation mistake. Pre 1978, each carrier was essentially a large jet regional, that grew from the old mail route days. Each was protected by the CAB and when you went on strike, no one "jumped" into your neighborhood. We can see how that has changed. Then add in the regionals, and the legacies have no way to "protect" their turf.
Had the legacies embraced the regionals in the 80's, figured out how to do reasonable flow up agreements, and worked out ways to handle furloughs and downgrades, a system would have evolved that would have done a couple of things. It would have created the "farm system" and brand loyalty for a new pilot coming into the industry and then given that new "regional pilot" the future and security he wanted, while giving the legacy carrier a stable work force. More importantly, it would have created the solidarity between the pilot groups that would have given the regional pilots the support of "big brother" at the bargaining table and both the support when it came time to stop moving the planes.
What came instead and continues today are turf wars, consuming our own. AMR, DAL, UAL...everyone out there with a regional partner wants now to ensure that any future reductions in the legacy are protected by allowing the legacy pilots to flow back to the regional jets. DAL is already in the process of planning for this. Others will do so as well because we as a group have never figured out how to play together.
There are some that have not figured out how to stop grinding axes. I've been fortunate to have been involved in this industry for almost 30 years and have seen the ebbs and flows. I've also had the privilege of working with some tremendous people throughout and we've accomplished some great things.
I've also learned, as so many have, that life viewed through rose tinted glasses may be grand, but it's not always the case. Just as everyone does not like one flavor of ice cream, one particular union is not always the best fit for everyone. Anyone saying that is the case; or belittleing others for not being a part of their union, serves no purpose. Just like signing a whipsaw contract, it hurts everyone for years to come.
The Amerijet strike proved that. Working men and women who never would have supported pilots came out in droves to stand with them. Pilots who are members of every pilot union either showed up or lent support. AFL-CIO stood shoulder to shoulder with the IBT, SWAPA, CAPA, USAPA, IPA and ALPA pilots.
That's what trade unionism is and how we should work together. Not calling others "truck drivers," "turncoats," "raiders," and the like.
We need to foster pilots like Jhugz and others who are coming up and welcome them to our ranks. We also have a responsibility to be honest with them and admit our mistakes and work together to find honest solutions.
irate:
