Fee For Departure Committee

kellwolf

kellwolf

Piece of Trash
I know this is a subject that comes up sometimes and gets the "Well, what can ALPA do about it?" response. For those of you who aren't ALPA, don't get the Fast Reads or just delete 'em, here ya go:

Fee for Departure Committee Works to Harmonize Contracts, Enhance Pilot Migration

The newly established Fee for Departure (FFD) Ad Hoc Committee met in Herndon on Feb. 12 and 13, 2009, to discuss issues affecting this segment of the industry. Capt. Prater created this committee to help advance several of the goals set forth in the strategic plan approved by the fee-for-departure working group last October. The focus of this ad hoc committee is to develop methodologies to harmonize the pilot contracts of fee-for-departure carriers and build protocols for enhancing pilot migration from one airline to another.

Pilots from Air Canada Jazz, Mesaba, Pinnacle, PSA, and Trans States serve on the committee. The group’s diverse membership represents wide-ranging levels of seniority, carrier size, and geography. Frank and productive talks included consideration of contract standards, seniority portability, improved coordination between MECs and LECs, and coordination with the National Collective Bargaining and Career Security Protocol Committees. Monthly meetings are planned to continue this important work.
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We'll see what eventually comes of it, but at least it's movement in the right direction.
 
It's about time!:rolleyes: National need to be more involved with contract negotiation so that we don't have another event like Mesa's last TA.
 
From what I've seen, the FFD committee is one of the absolutely hardest Committees to get on.

Even harder than Safety.:)
 
BobDDuck said:
From what I've seen, the FFD committee is one of the absolutely hardest Committees to get on.

Even harder than Safety.:)
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Harder than safety? I didn't realize it was hard to get on that committee. Now more than ever I want to be on the safety committee..... I want to be able to learn and pass on any safety info that I can and be there in peoples' time of need. I can only hope that our Safety Committee members give me a chance to be a part of the team.
 
higney85 said:
Kell.... You about to wonder onto a 2nd committee?
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Love to, but like Ethan said, it's a tough gig to get. That would be #3 for me, though. Not that the hotel committee sees much action. Might be different if the company actually shared hotel reports filed through the company website....
 
kellwolf said:
Love to, but like Ethan said, it's a tough gig to get. That would be #3 for me, though. Not that the hotel committee sees much action. Might be different if the company actually shared hotel reports filed through the company website....
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You're on the hotel committee? thats one I would like to serve on, just due to my background. Is EW still the MSP rep/hotel chair?
 
If you want to make a change you have to volunteer. Otherwise its just a bunch of b!tchin and moanin with no change possible.... I wish more would realize this......
 
cencal83406 said:
Harder than safety? I didn't realize it was hard to get on that committee. Now more than ever I want to be on the safety committee.....
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EVERYBODY wants to get on to the Safety Committee. For a while I was heavily recruiting to get more guys on my committee and every single one of them either said that they had not time to volunteer (and yet were some of the biggest complainers out there) or they'd love to help out, but they wanted to be on the Safety Committee. It's the most glamorous, although as some of the Colgan guys can probably attest to, it can be one of the most draining. In an ALPA structure there are three (I think) levels of safety school they send you to, and each year there is only so much room at each class so it is very limited as to who gets to go.
 
If someone is interested enough in their career to look at message boards (lurkers) or even be avid posters they have enough time to work on a committee of some sort. For those who want to make a difference it's even possible to work on more than one committee and focus on the areas where you have either expertise or heavy interest. ALPA (or any other union) is collectively held together by volunteers. 2% is easy for the "Rank and file" and no one will ever accuse a fellow union member for not helping, but for those who preach to the high heavens on how things "should be", they should take that anger and aggression and work towards making a change. I volunteer on 2 committees and would say that in any given month it may take 5 hours of dedicated time. Between a couple conference calls or a meeting down at corporate and some time responding to emails, on the phone with national, or the company, or just clearing up rumors or misnomers online- it only takes a few minutes and is fun in many cases to help someone out.

I suggest every ALPA member or pilot one day hopes to fly for an ALPA carrier (even regionals) to take the time to read "Flying the Line" Vol. 1&2. It's easy and entertaining reading and really shows how ALPA was started, why many ways remain today, and the difference of a few people volunteering.
 
I agree it is a step in the right direction. However, didn't we all ready have this committee? I remember a few years ago the fee for departure task force and their recommendations published in the ALPA mag. What came of that? I am not trying to gripe but it would be nice to see ACTION rather than just some group meetings. I am sure that after a few months this committee will publish an article stating we need a national seniority list, minimum contract standards, etc. Why don't we actually get moving on this stuff instead of just talking about it?
 
BobDDuck said:
EVERYBODY wants to get on to the Safety Committee.
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Very true. Which is strange, because that's the only committee that I've always said I have absolutely no interest in joining. Too technical for me. But yeah, everybody wants to be on Safety. That's one committee that you never have problems finding volunteers for.

As for the FFD Committee, since it's a national committee, you usually need a ton of experience in ALPA work to get that kind of position. They usually want current or former MEC Officers or Negotiating Committee members for those kinds of positions.
 
Brian: Yeah, EW is still the committee chair. There's not much action on the committee, but the good news for that is you've still got plenty of other time to devote to other committees. :)

Ken: Did I miss anything on the P2P call the other night? Normally, the wife is home and I can at least listen while getting the kiddo to bed. That night I was on my own.

On the safety committee thing: I'd love to be on that committee as well, but I think a LOT of guys just do it to say "I'm on the safety committee" as part of a resume. When it comes down to actually DOING things like pushing to get company procedures changed b/c of a trend found in ASAP reports or (like the Colgan guys) doing actual accident investigations, I think a lot of those guys would be wishing they were doing something else. The guy that was the safety committe chair here for a long time has dropped into the background (and I'm not even 100% sure if he's even on the committee anymore) b/c of the work load.
 
kellwolf said:
The guy that was the safety committe chair here for a long time has dropped into the background (and I'm not even 100% sure if he's even on the committee anymore) b/c of the work load.
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He's actually out in Buffalo helping the Colgan guys right now. Take a look at who Seggy's newest friend is on Facebook.
 
kellwolf said:
Ken: Did I miss anything on the P2P call the other night? Normally, the wife is home and I can at least listen while getting the kiddo to bed. That night I was on my own.
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I'm not sure what was known and what wasn't known. You should have an email from EM if you were not on the call. If you didn't and want the quick 411 send me a PM with your number and a good time to call. I still have my notes handy.
 
You don't want to be on the Safety Committee. You'll have trouble sleeping at night, and you'll be paranoid every time you're in the back of an airplane and something weird happens.

You think I'm joking...
 
Well, hell, in that case you don't want to be on the hotel committee either. You'll never be able to sleep in a hotel room again. :)
 
I've got nothing but time. I'd like to make a difference. When I was at ERAU I spent the time with ISASI and I learned a lot.

With that said, I'm not here to convince you guys I want to do it or here to find out how bad it is. :) I don't mean offense by saying that. The guy currently in charge of our Safety Committee (CA A.V., not CA A.R.) will make the final determination based on, firstly, if they want anyone else on their committee, and secondly, if what I bring to the table is enough to help the committee out. I'm not applying to gain glory or put it on my resume, I want to be an asset to the team.

Of course, if either of them read this forum, they know who I am here now. lol.
 
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