Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Banned from the DALPA Forum
This is the post that is not permitted on ALPA's webboards.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Tuesday, February 09, 2010 
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Resolutions for Change
Resolution 1: Transparency and Communication (Revised)
Whereas the Pilots of Council 44 are highly interested in the manner and substance of business conducted by the Delta MEC,
Whereas Trust, Unity and Collaboration between the pilots of Council 44 and their LEC and MEC leadership is enhanced by timely, informative and open communication,
Whereas the pilots of Council 44 were not given notice of ongoing negotiations and talks with respect to LOA 19 - No Fly Lines, LOA 20 - MAC Charter Operations nor ALPA’s support of the JAL Joint Venture; therefore preventing direct, timely input to these and other ALPA-Management negotiations,
Be it resolved that the pilots of Council 44 direct its Officers to communicate the subject of all negotiations and union business that impacts the majority of Delta Pilots as early as possible to the Council, seeking input and guidance from council members and subsequently using that input when directing the MEC Administration and Negotiating Committee.
Be it further resolved that the Pilots of Council 44 direct their LEC Officers to pursue at minimum bi-monthly communication utilizing technology that facilitates timely, informative, worldwide contact with its members including but not limited to a council website, instant messaging, video or teleconferencing, and that
The Officers of Council 44 commit to using their influence to establish these standards, through out the Delta MEC.
Resolution 2: Pay (Revised)
Whereas the Delta Pilots have sustained an unprecedented assault on our contract by the management of Delta Air Lines resulting in draconian changes to nearly every section of our contract,
Whereas management utilized every means available including threats of dire consequences, company liquidation, and the stringent provisions of bankruptcy law to impose pay cuts in excess of 40%, divestiture of the contractual and moral obligations of the Delta Pilot Pension Plan and the drastic alteration of long established work rules,
Whereas no other employee group at Delta Air Lines sustained pay cuts in any way comparable to those imposed on the Delta Pilots, nor did any other Delta employee group endure the default of their pension and subsequent transfer of pension liabilities to the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation resulting in a drastic reduction of pension payouts,
Be it resolved that the pilots of Atlanta Council 44 will seek full restoration of wages, pensions and work rules at every opportunity. We further direct the Officers of Council 44 and the Delta MEC to vigorously pursue this restoration with each and every negotiation with Delta Management and to state this intent in all communications regarding any negotiation.
Resolution 3: Conflict of Interest
Whereas the Delta MEC will be supporting and/or voting for a candidate for President, Air Line Pilots Association, International at the Fall Board of Directors Meeting,
Be it resolved that the Pilots of Council 44 direct their LEC Officers to encourage the Delta MEC to commit to only support and vote for candidates that declare their intent to run for office with publicly stated positions before August 2010.
Be it further resolved that the Pilots of Council 44 request that this be accomplished by the submission of a resolution to the Delta MEC at the next Delta MEC Meeting expressing this commitment.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
"I don't want one cent of our dues money to be spent trying to win the un-winnable war of public perception of my salary. I would rather quietly prepare for the future...saving money and getting ready for the real battles ahead." Lee Moak Supporter.
So this war would be un-winnable and costly? I used to think that way as well. That has been conventional thinking for my whole career. As Vice Chair of Communication under Captain Moak, I said this many, many times and heard it repeated by others often.
But consider this:
Traditional media is a dying industry. Newspapers will eventually not print newsprint (most young people never read them, many of the rest of us get our news on-line). TV has been fractured from 3 networks to hundreds. At the same time electrons have essentially become free (or nearly so). It costs nothing to post Press Releases, stories on websites, blogs, etc.
Now I would agree that most of the time, people do not seek out pilot pay stories. Generally they don't care about pay, they care about cheap tickets.
But there are spikes in interest. When Sully Sullenberger crash landed in the Hudson and then testified in front of Congress, there was a weeks worth of stories on pilot pay and retirement. There was lots of free coverage on pilot pay. It was great coverage for us. Maybe that lead to these other stories like this (more free publicity).
We never know when interest in pilot pay and retirement will occur. Interest is dependent on breaking stories related to airlines. That is just one reason why we need continual press releases or website stories about pay. Look at what is out there now. If a hot story broke and a reporter did a Google Search for background information here is what they would find:
Sadly when I worked for Lee, the MEC Administration did all it could to keep pilots from getting worked up. It was a conscious decision, one I am sure management loves. The times they were most responsive was when we perceived a wrong and rung their phones off the hook and posted ad-infinitum on the Forum. Our union is only truly responsive when we force them to be.
So this war would be un-winnable and costly? I used to think that way as well. That has been conventional thinking for my whole career. As Vice Chair of Communication under Captain Moak, I said this many, many times and heard it repeated by others often.
But consider this:
Traditional media is a dying industry. Newspapers will eventually not print newsprint (most young people never read them, many of the rest of us get our news on-line). TV has been fractured from 3 networks to hundreds. At the same time electrons have essentially become free (or nearly so). It costs nothing to post Press Releases, stories on websites, blogs, etc.
Now I would agree that most of the time, people do not seek out pilot pay stories. Generally they don't care about pay, they care about cheap tickets.
But there are spikes in interest. When Sully Sullenberger crash landed in the Hudson and then testified in front of Congress, there was a weeks worth of stories on pilot pay and retirement. There was lots of free coverage on pilot pay. It was great coverage for us. Maybe that lead to these other stories like this (more free publicity).
We never know when interest in pilot pay and retirement will occur. Interest is dependent on breaking stories related to airlines. That is just one reason why we need continual press releases or website stories about pay. Look at what is out there now. If a hot story broke and a reporter did a Google Search for background information here is what they would find:
- "Pilot Pay" - a real mix of stuff with Airline Pilot Central at the top
- "Pilot Pay + Delta Air Lines" - The top link is "Will Fly for Food" a pilot job information site. #2 is the Delta Pilots Website (yeah) but it is the old one and is worthless (boo); There is not one story on page 1 about the travesty of our pay cuts. Our union is failing when it comes to being internet savvy.
- Our hero, "Sully + Pilot Pay" - Great stuff, we should be so lucky.
Sadly when I worked for Lee, the MEC Administration did all it could to keep pilots from getting worked up. It was a conscious decision, one I am sure management loves. The times they were most responsive was when we perceived a wrong and rung their phones off the hook and posted ad-infinitum on the Forum. Our union is only truly responsive when we force them to be.
I Like Lee
From the Forum. A pilot posted, "I like Lee". Of course that got me thinking. Here is a response:
Fair enough. I respect that opinion.
Speaking as someone who worked under him for almost 5 years, I like him too. He is very personable, handles tough questions well and is an incredible politician. He surrounds himself with good people. All likable, all hard working, sometimes innovative. I would agree, some good things have been accomplished.
At the same time there are several problems with this picture. First of all we don't see the whole thing. Lee and his people are deal makers. Deals are done in secret, promises are made, established policies we think are being followed, are not always. Pilots expect the highest standards from other pilots. We are trained to be lead, but as a cohesive, responsive team. There are former team members who will tell you this is not the case.
Secondly, they are great at messaging. They point to USAir, American and United and say, do you want to be them? They paint conflict as only only two choices, white or black. WHITE: We do it Moak's way, a business approach. Company assertions that we have to make a profit before there is any significant return is accepted as gospel along with company data and business plans based on lower pay (and flexibility for higher oil). Or BLACK: We do it like those carriers that are out there screaming in pain and are taking their companies down in ruin by doing so. Then there is GRAY: We have all been through negotiations. They have never been just business without some pushback. Therefore the negotiators conduct cordial business while the Communication paints a very mixed reality including in our public statements. IE "We love Delta, we care about getting our passengers safely and happily to their destinations and By the Way our trusted CEO cut wages 42% and broke a solemn promise of a pension. Why do we avoid conflict? Why do we accept only 2 choices? Even big business does not operate this way. We need to be agressive; publicly and privately.
Our union has managed our expectations. That is the companies job, not theirs. Next Tuesday evening there is a Frontline on PBS called, Flying Cheap. Have you ever seen a reporter make a case for us before we make the case for ourselves? Our Communication Communication should be saying, "Thank God, finally they get what we have been saying". But sadly, that is not the case.
On top of that their is a clear conflict of interest in our union. Regionals in our union sue us for taking their flying! What has ALPA not split this union in two? Does dues income have anything to do with it? This is a problem screaming for fixing and NO ONE in ALPA has touched it.
It is great to be happy. Perhaps life is better not paying attention to our union's actions (many of which are done behind closed doors) and not interested in the stories behind the anger you see here on the Forum. I can understand that. I just hope when someone inarticulately explains their disdain for ALPA you think, there may be more than just sour grapes behind it.
Fair enough. I respect that opinion.
Speaking as someone who worked under him for almost 5 years, I like him too. He is very personable, handles tough questions well and is an incredible politician. He surrounds himself with good people. All likable, all hard working, sometimes innovative. I would agree, some good things have been accomplished.
At the same time there are several problems with this picture. First of all we don't see the whole thing. Lee and his people are deal makers. Deals are done in secret, promises are made, established policies we think are being followed, are not always. Pilots expect the highest standards from other pilots. We are trained to be lead, but as a cohesive, responsive team. There are former team members who will tell you this is not the case.
Secondly, they are great at messaging. They point to USAir, American and United and say, do you want to be them? They paint conflict as only only two choices, white or black. WHITE: We do it Moak's way, a business approach. Company assertions that we have to make a profit before there is any significant return is accepted as gospel along with company data and business plans based on lower pay (and flexibility for higher oil). Or BLACK: We do it like those carriers that are out there screaming in pain and are taking their companies down in ruin by doing so. Then there is GRAY: We have all been through negotiations. They have never been just business without some pushback. Therefore the negotiators conduct cordial business while the Communication paints a very mixed reality including in our public statements. IE "We love Delta, we care about getting our passengers safely and happily to their destinations and By the Way our trusted CEO cut wages 42% and broke a solemn promise of a pension. Why do we avoid conflict? Why do we accept only 2 choices? Even big business does not operate this way. We need to be agressive; publicly and privately.
Our union has managed our expectations. That is the companies job, not theirs. Next Tuesday evening there is a Frontline on PBS called, Flying Cheap. Have you ever seen a reporter make a case for us before we make the case for ourselves? Our Communication Communication should be saying, "Thank God, finally they get what we have been saying". But sadly, that is not the case.
On top of that their is a clear conflict of interest in our union. Regionals in our union sue us for taking their flying! What has ALPA not split this union in two? Does dues income have anything to do with it? This is a problem screaming for fixing and NO ONE in ALPA has touched it.
It is great to be happy. Perhaps life is better not paying attention to our union's actions (many of which are done behind closed doors) and not interested in the stories behind the anger you see here on the Forum. I can understand that. I just hope when someone inarticulately explains their disdain for ALPA you think, there may be more than just sour grapes behind it.
Friday, February 5, 2010
DVR Alert: FRONTLINE Presents Flying Cheap
FRONTLINE INVESTIGATES SAFETY PROBLEMS OF MAJOR AIRLINES OUTSOURCING FLIGHTS TO SMALLER REGIONAL CARRIERS
FRONTLINE Presents
Flying Cheap
Tuesday, February 9, 2010, at 9 P.M. ET on PBS
http://www.pbs.org/frontline/flyingcheap/
Last February, Continental Flight 3407 crashed outside of Buffalo, N.Y., killing 49 people onboard and one on the ground. Although 3407 was painted in the colors of Continental Connection, it was actually operated by Colgan Air, a regional airline that flies routes under contract for US Airways, United and Continental. The crash and subsequent investigation revealed a little-known trend in the airline industry: Major airlines have outsourced more and more of their flights to obscure regional carriers.
Today, with regional airlines accounting for more than half of all scheduled domestic flights in the United States and responsible for the last six fatal commercial airline accidents, FRONTLINE producer Rick Young and correspondent Miles O’Brien investigate the safety issues associated with outsourcing in Flying Cheap, airing Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010, at 9 P.M. ET on PBS (check local listings).
Read more . . .
FRONTLINE Presents
Flying Cheap
Tuesday, February 9, 2010, at 9 P.M. ET on PBS
http://www.pbs.org/frontline/flyingcheap/
Last February, Continental Flight 3407 crashed outside of Buffalo, N.Y., killing 49 people onboard and one on the ground. Although 3407 was painted in the colors of Continental Connection, it was actually operated by Colgan Air, a regional airline that flies routes under contract for US Airways, United and Continental. The crash and subsequent investigation revealed a little-known trend in the airline industry: Major airlines have outsourced more and more of their flights to obscure regional carriers.
Today, with regional airlines accounting for more than half of all scheduled domestic flights in the United States and responsible for the last six fatal commercial airline accidents, FRONTLINE producer Rick Young and correspondent Miles O’Brien investigate the safety issues associated with outsourcing in Flying Cheap, airing Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010, at 9 P.M. ET on PBS (check local listings).
Read more . . .
Thursday, February 4, 2010
The Pilot Story You Won't See on TV Tonight
On your next airline flight, as you walk by the cockpit, you now know on average, the coffee you purchased in the terminal cost more than what both pilots will earn from your passenger fare for each hour of flight they accept responsibility for your safety.
Read more ...
Read more ...
Friday, January 8, 2010
Terrorism, Security and ALPA
It has been 2 weeks since a terrorist nearly brought down a planeload of Christmas travelers. Pilots have valuable, insightful ideas to improve aviation security. It is time for ALPA to go beyond the meeting rooms in Washington, and really lead the fight to protect the traveling public. I would like to see the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) President, John Prater, publicly addressing this crisis.
Airline pilots know all too well the critical importance of teamwork, yet teamwork is sadly weak and ineffective when it comes to aviation security.
How is it that:
• Many of the reforms called for following 9/11 are either incomplete or ineffective?
• A terrorists’ father talks to the CIA Station Chief in Lagos about the radicalism of his US Visa carrying son, yet that information doesn’t prevent the son from boarding a USA bound passenger jet to attempt the Christmas Day atrocity?
• A one-letter misspelling of a terrorists name prevents an arrest and enables an attack?
• Our political leaders are so partisan that they cannot even vote on a leader or approve a budget for the TSA?
• Pilots are the trusted in-flight security coordinators, yet high tech biometric screening of pilots has not been implemented?
As pilots we are married to this system of aviation security. We understand it. We know the problems. Yet with gaping holes in the “Teamwork” aspects of aviation security our Union Leaders need to lead a massive reform effort. Our passengers trust us. Let’s live up to the trust our passengers place on us by calling out the so-called experts then leading the movement for true Aviation Security reform?
Airline pilots know all too well the critical importance of teamwork, yet teamwork is sadly weak and ineffective when it comes to aviation security.
How is it that:
• Many of the reforms called for following 9/11 are either incomplete or ineffective?
• A terrorists’ father talks to the CIA Station Chief in Lagos about the radicalism of his US Visa carrying son, yet that information doesn’t prevent the son from boarding a USA bound passenger jet to attempt the Christmas Day atrocity?
• A one-letter misspelling of a terrorists name prevents an arrest and enables an attack?
• Our political leaders are so partisan that they cannot even vote on a leader or approve a budget for the TSA?
• Pilots are the trusted in-flight security coordinators, yet high tech biometric screening of pilots has not been implemented?
As pilots we are married to this system of aviation security. We understand it. We know the problems. Yet with gaping holes in the “Teamwork” aspects of aviation security our Union Leaders need to lead a massive reform effort. Our passengers trust us. Let’s live up to the trust our passengers place on us by calling out the so-called experts then leading the movement for true Aviation Security reform?
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