Ingredients for Change

Blogs, wikis, twitter and links. These are the free and readily available tools anyone can use to effect change.

The Internet is leveling the playing field between the powerful and those they serve. Ignore your constituents? A blogger will make sure your actions get widespread attention. Jeff Jarvis helped change the culture of Dell Computer through his blog post, “Dell Sucks. Dell Lies.” Jeff tells the story (in his book, “What Would Google Do?”) of how his post hit a nerve with highly dissatisfied Dell customers. Equally angry readers linked (click on the underlined blue words for more) his post so widely it quickly rose in prominence in Google Searches until it appeared just below Dell’s own website! It was at that point Dell decided they had been ignoring their blogging critics too long. They had missed important input that was now hurting them. Their critics are now their partners.

Wiki’s. Wikis are moderated websites where collaboration grows great ideas. Have you ever visited Wikipedia? Did you know that unpaid volunteers make almost all entries in Wikipedia? How do they keep controversial topics from becoming one big free-for-all? Wiki software and the more experienced and committed volunteers created a system where ideas grow and controversy is effectively managed. Wiki software is free. Feature-laden versions may add some costs that are worth the price. Is your organization using them to collaborate and nurture good ideas?

Twitter. I thought Twitter was for kids, until I listened to some fascinating lectures on one of my favorite websites, Ted.com. What I learned about Twitter on TED was that twitter was providing instantaneous news, long before the media could report it. It was changing the game in Iran and Africa while breaking news from the little guy in the US. When used as a tool by organizations, the speed and focused message Twitter provides could bring large groups together in powerful unison.

These are just a few of the many mostly free tools that populate the web. Wise organizations and leaders are effectively employing they with remarkable results. Use them. Don’t get left in the dust.

Anger; a Motivator for Change

LOA 18, No Fly Lines (NFL’s) pissed me off. Pilots getting leave with insurance benefits?? Great, why not? My union negotiating deals without my knowledge? INDEFENSABLE! Didn’t anyone ever teach you guys a basic principle; before making decisions that affect others, let them know and get their input before you decide anything?!

How could such a basic, respectful concept be so often ignored? Our Union Leadership forgets whom they are serving. They forget that they are our representatives. How can they act on our behalf unless they regularly seek guidance from us? How can we possibly give input without knowing what our union leaders are up to? It is a huge mistake to keep us unnecessarily in the dark. Are you afraid of pilots knowing too much? Or was it an honest mistake? Have you ever heard an apology from a union leader?

I don’t know about you, but actions like this make my blood boil. They also motivate me. I will no longer sit quietly when information pilots have a right to know is kept secret. This union will hear from me in the most vocal way I can use when they make decisions without consulting us. Anger and the Internet are a dangerous combination. Are you paying attention ALPA?

I am now connected to my social networking websites through ping.fm

Join A Grassroots Transformation of Delta ALPA - Handout

Join A Grassroots Transformation of Delta ALPA

Please help form a grassroots movement to transform Delta ALPA. We need to find better ways to unite behind the vast talents of our members. We can exponentially multiply our strengths by modernizing and updating the way we communicate.

Communication is a two-way street. If given equal access to relevant, non-proprietary information, pilots will provide innovative and insightful ideas. Yet this information is frequently withheld; decisions are made without the broad, intelligent input readily available from the membership. Admittedly it is difficult to collect, manage and utilize pilot input when the issues are numerous, contentious and complex. Fortunately, the Internet age has provided a wealth of communication and collaborative tools that are revolutionizing organizations. ALPA needs to lead in this new paradigm.

I propose we work together to start a grass roots effort to:

· Web based meeting software to video-cast LEC, MEC and Committee Meetings. Organizational changes must be made to facilitate this reform.

· Secrecy - Review and modify with the goal of making available all non-proprietary information to the membership.

· Use of communication tools such as SMS, Twitter, and other cutting edge networking software to keep interested members well informed.

· Use of wiki type software to facilitate collaboration between the paid volunteers and members in all areas including Safety, Scheduling, Contract Negotiations and Communication.

· Complete the above in a cost neutral way while operating within US law and the guidelines of Fair Representation.

This effort is non-partisan. This is not about personalities (Master Chairman M. vs. former Master Chairman M.) or politics (Red Book vs. Green Book).

If you are interested in joining this effort, please let me know along with your thoughts. Please pass this on to your friends. Let's get the conversation started to transform our union.

Jeff Joslin

transformalpa@gmail.com

Welcome to the Transform ALPA blog

Over the course of my career as a pilot at Delta Air Lines I have grown to appreciate and truly value the concepts of teamwork, open communication and shared endeavor to be successful. In my broader life, the experience of focused and conscious efforts in groups (communities) I belong to has shown how working together accomplishes much while providing a camaraderie that makes the effort enjoyable.

This blog is a grassroots effort to build a community within the Delta Pilot’s Union members to transform our union. What we seek is fairly simple:

• Increase Transparency. If DALPA makes decisions that affect Line Pilots, let us know about them before decisions are made.
• Seek out broad input. The Delta Pilots are a vast resource; a goldmine for our leaders to seek out ideas, knowledge and opinion.
• Use readily available technology to achieve this transparency, collect input and really collaborate with the Delta Pilots. Examples of technology to use? SMS instant messaging, wiki websites (for collaboration) and networking software to name just a few.

If you are a Delta Pilot and are interested in joining this effort, please send me an email (TransformALPA@gmail.com), or join the discussion at our message boards (coming soon). Stay tuned for an idea building (wiki) website to help share this movement together.

Transforming ALPA is not political. It is not about regime change, red vs. green, you or me. It is an effort to open the union’s process to better ideas and more participation. It is about asking our leaders to be more inclusive. Ultimately it is about improving our contract and our careers.

Fraternally,

Jeff Joslin