Endeavor ALPA to publish delinquent dues'rs

ALPA did actually mess up my dues amount one year. For whatever reason they added a 1 to my years of longevity so instead of being a 4 year captain I became 14 year captain. At the end of the year they thought I owed a whole lot more money than what had been DCOd from my paycheck. It took about three months to clear it up and Membership was pretty helpful. However, because I wasn't paying the "extra" amount during that time period (because membership was trying to figure out what happened) I kept getting letters telling me to pay. The third or fourth letter was pretty damn nasty.

The take away though is that if your company messes up what they are DCOing to ALPA, it's still your problem. You owe those funds.

If ALPA has messed up what they think you owe (which can and does happen despite what some people around here are saying), that's not your problem at all.
 
I'm not saying that it's impossible for ALPA to mess up what you owe. What I'm saying is that normal people work with them to get it sorted out. Deadbeats just ignore it and don't pay.
 
I'm glad people are "disgusted" by the fact I question I bill I get in the mail with no data beyond the amount and where to send the check that's dated six months AFTER I left. Hell yes, I have a problem with that. However, apparently union-think is I should just pay it since ALPA says I owe it. Otherwise, I'm a despicable deadbeat. Fine. Go ahead and toss deadbeat under my avatar over there while we're at it.

Here's the deal. We need a CBA here at jetBlue. Badly. We're having a union drive, but based on my past experiences with the organization, the way people talk down to those that might not be on board with ALPA and how I've been talked to, treated and insulted by ALPA reps (not just on here, in person as well), I'm not sure I can swallow the bile rising in my throat to vote "yes." At best, I might write in for an in-house union. What sucks is there's no viable alternative to ALPA. Teamsters aren't it. APA or SWAPA aren't gonna rep us. USAPA is a joke. So, that leaves us with one horrible, horrible option. I'm already seeing the misleading information campaigns from both sides over here, yet the ALPA OC will claim they're giving us the whole truth. They're just as carefully worded e-mails to doctor the "facts" as management sends on. It's gotten to the point I just don't trust anyone.

Back at Pinnacle it was all "Shut up or volunteer" from ALPA reps. Then when you DO try to volunteer, no one really wants your help or won't bother getting back to you. I was on the hotel committee for 3 years, and I never heard anything. I'd randomly get a call because no one else was answering their phone or e-mails, and someone knew my name. The only thing I knew to do was kick it up the chain to the committee chair, and I'd never hear anything back. I was P2P chair, and during the merger the incoming MEC apparently decided someone else should be chair. How did I find out about it? One of the reps asked why I wasn't doing the calls anymore. So, yeah. Not too high on ALPA. I can honestly think of a lot better places to spend $353 and my 1.9%.
 
ATN_Pilot said:
I'm not saying that it's impossible for ALPA to mess up what you owe. What I'm saying is that normal people work with them to get it sorted out. Deadbeats just ignore it and don't pay.
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Yeah, man. We got it. Go ahead and post it a few more times.....
 
I'm on my phone and it's not letting me quote posts but @kellwolf the examples of "ALPA" you saw at 9E and you read from the vocal few here don't really represent the competency or view of the majority of the leadership.
 
BobDDuck said:
I'm on my phone and it's not letting me quote posts but @kellwolf the examples of "ALPA" you saw at 9E and you read from the vocal few here don't really represent the competency or view of the majority of the leadership.
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Fair enough, but 9E ALPA has produced thousands of discontent pilots who are vehemently anti-ALPA.

We even have elected reps that are anti-union / anti-PAC.
 
ATN_Pilot said:
Does it matter? His attitude makes it clear that he belongs on a non-member list.
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Why, because ALPA messed up my dues YEAR OVER YEAR, and I decided to ignore it the final time, after I no longer worked at a union carrier?

Do I have heartburn with ALPA? Yes. Big time. I have major cognitive dissonance over my decision to vote yes in our upcoming election. I would prefer an in-house union, and if there's any kind of write-in campaign, I will do so.

As far as I'm concerned, you and Seggy have NO room to throw stones with regard to attitude and chips on your shoulders.
 
ATN_Pilot said:
I have no idea if ALPA messed up your dues or not. It's entirely possible that you're wrong. In either case, it should be resolved rather than you simply ignoring it.
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I did resolve it. I called them and told them I wasn't paying it. So I guess "ignoring it" isn't exactly correct. I told them to pound sand.
 
ATN_Pilot said:
Yeah, I can't imagine why someone would think that you have a bad attitude. :rolleyes:
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What's your address? I think I need to make up some bills and send them your way since you seem to pay them without question. If you like, I'll even pretend to represent you while I have a direct conflict of interest with another client. That way you can feel more at home with the charges.
 
@PhilosopherPilot and @kellwolf, a few points.

I have seen those letters ALPA sends. They are worded that way to catch one's attention and highlight the seriousness of the fact that one is behind in their dues.

Secondly, your argument that 'it isn't my problem' if the company screws up or even if ALPA screws up doesn't carry any weight. If your company screws up paying the proper amount of your paycheck for taxes to the IRS, it is your problem to handle. You telling ALPA to 'pound sand', doesn't work. They are going to go after for what they think they are owed. Much like the IRS would, even if they make a mistake. The burden is on you to prove your point. Which, if you REALLY wanted to get to the bottom of this, instead of telling ALPA to 'pound sand', you should file a formal complaint with the Department of Labor. Have you thought of that? If not, your welcome! Have ALPA explain to Department of Labor what they are expecting to be paid. Of course you will need to give your side of the story. But, instead of going that avenue, knowing you guys left your regionals with both of your middle fingers pointed at ALPA hoping to never deal with them again telling ALPA to 'pound sand' felt good to y'all. Ok, but there is a way to handle it instead of telling ALPA to 'pound sand' if you are 100% sure it was ALPA's mistake and they aren't seeing it your way.

Thirdly, @PhilosopherPilot, you were appalled that folks at your company would treat a VP of Flight Operations in a unprofessional manner. When folks tell the ALPA staff to 'pound sand', the feeling of appall you felt is what folks like @ATN_Pilot and myself feel. Except we actually worked with them. Not just know the guy through memos. Hope that put's it in perspective for you.

Fourthly, if you really think you can 'cost ALPA more' in getting their money than they will collect is a true statement...well....ALPA has a large legal team on staff that can handle it for free to ALPA. So good luck with that. I am sure you will be quickly frustrated at their large resources to get what they are owed.
 
I really don't care enough to file a complaint. Like I said, they can be short sighted and get their $175, or I can cost them far more than that over the next 28 years.
 
Glad you saw the strongly worded letter. I never did. Like I said, just a bill, no explanation. No word since the original letter, either.
 
Sounds like I got a different bill. Mine was a bill with no explanation, but not nearly as high as kellwolf's.

When I called they explained the bill was the cost to continue on as a inactive member, and that I didn't owe any dues.
 
Snuggle said:
Sounds like I got a different bill. Mine was a bill with no explanation, but not nearly as high as kellwolf's.

When I called they explained the bill was the cost to continue on as a inactive member, and that I didn't owe any dues.
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We shouldn't have to explain anything, all your bases are belong to us.
 
ATN_Pilot said:
If somebody sent me a bill without an explanation, I think I would call and ask for an explanation. Silly me. :rolleyes:
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I'm sending you a bill right now. It consists of a bill for an amount, a return envelope for your payment. I also dated it for a period of time we've never been in the same place at the same time. It's for services rendered. Pay it, deadbeat.

This is the logic you're using for this, ya know.
 
Snuggle said:
When I called they explained the bill was the cost to continue on as a inactive member, and that I didn't owe any dues.
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I'm confused as to why you would have to pay for them to check a box on a computer system to make you inactive. Shouldn't the fact that you left an ALPA carrier put you in that status automatically?
 
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ATN_Pilot said:
If somebody sent me a bill without an explanation, I think I would call and ask for an explanation. Silly me. :rolleyes:
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I would think most people would rather want the reason in writing. Having a bill randomly show up several months after the fact with no explanation makes most people's suspicion meters peg. As you can tell it sets off emotions that likely wouldn't have been triggered had full details of the bill been explained from the start.

Just a section that says "This is for underpaid dues for paychecks dated:" and a list starts of paychecks. Personally I would like to research before I call. Would save me and ALPA some time.
 
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