Frank Lorenzo Would Be Proud Of Alpa

Sep 1, 2002
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Commentary: Frank Lorenzo Would be Proud

Frank Lorenzo, ALPA's arch-enemy of the 1980’s, used alter-ego carriers to whipsaw ALPA's members and undermine the union’s strength. But if Texas Air had purchased regional jets instead of 727’s, Frank Lorenzo may have very well have succeeded in destroying ALPA—with the help of the union’s leadership.

While duly striking, this view is not as far-fetched as it may sound given that in the last four years ALPA has endorsed the creation of more alter-egos than Frank Lorenzo ever imagined. Naturally, ALPA doesn't call them alter-ego airlines. Instead, ALPA uses such terms as “Jets for Jobs†carriers, NWA 70, or the “Embraer Division†of US Airways (i.e. Mid-Atlantic.)

Mindful that alter-ego airlines are used to manipulate and exploit pilots, there can be little doubt that Frank Lorenzo and ALPA's anti-RJ factions have a lot in common:

-- Formed alter-egos
-- Argued that airline subsidiaries were “separate†companies.
-- Undermined preexisting union contracts
-- Negotiated low-ball pay rates
-- Terms offered on a “take it or leave it†basis
-- Threatened transfer of assets

Even worse, ALPA's motives aren't any more honorable than Lorenzo's, especially in light of the fact that ALPA has a fiduciary obligation to its members whereas Lorenzo did not. Probably the most visible example of ALPA at its worst can be found at US Airways and its implementation of successive Jets-for-Jobs agreements.

There, ALPA made it very clear to the Piedmont, PSA, and Allegheny pilots that ALPA would do business with any “regional†carrier—even non-ALPA or non-union ones—provided they accepted the Jets-for-Jobs protocols. To be blunt, Frank Lorenzo would have been proud to see how ALPA's leadership adapted his tactics in pursuing political expediency over leadership and duty.

For those naive enough to believe that “Brand Scope†will bring equity to ALPA, read the fine print. Under “brand scope,†ALPA's mainline interests will decide how to divvy up the flying. That's a nice way of saying ALPA's mainline interests will retain control of the “whip†as in whip-saw. More importantly, “brand scope†is designed to accommodate, not eliminate, divisions among pilots flying for a single carrier.

But what would really bring a smile to Franks face is that apparently some of ALPA's “mainline†members would rather leave ALPA than see the union defend the piloting profession by upholding its duty of fair representation. In fact, ALPA's representatives have even suggested that they will use this threat to justify the continuation of ALPA's unfair practices!

Yes, the ghost of Frank Lorenzo still haunts ALPA. But rather than exorcizing the demons and learning from past mistakes, ALPA is instead embracing Frank Lorenzo's anti-union tactics. ALPA won't call it “anti-union,†but given the harm suffered by ALPA members flying all aircraft types, that's precisely what it is.

For ALPA's members, the question is whether you feel you job is more secure today than it was four years ago. If not, then demanding a reexamination of ALPA's attitudes and tactics is in order. If you believe ALPA hasn't done anything wrong, then do nothing. That's something even Frank Lorenzo would approve of.
 
Why don't the regional pilots bolt from ALPA and form a union that will be an advocate for their interests? Independence Air will show how much or little the regional airline depends on the mainline.
 
InclusiveScope said:
Commentary: Frank Lorenzo Would be Proud

Frank Lorenzo, ALPA's arch-enemy of the 1980’s, used alter-ego carriers to whipsaw ALPA's members and undermine the union’s strength. But if Texas Air had purchased regional jets instead of 727’s, Frank Lorenzo may have very well have succeeded in destroying ALPA—with the help of the union’s leadership.

While duly striking, this view is not as far-fetched as it may sound given that in the last four years ALPA has endorsed the creation of more alter-egos than Frank Lorenzo ever imagined. Naturally, ALPA doesn't call them alter-ego airlines. Instead, ALPA uses such terms as “Jets for Jobs†carriers, NWA 70, or the “Embraer Division†of US Airways (i.e. Mid-Atlantic.)

Mindful that alter-ego airlines are used to manipulate and exploit pilots, there can be little doubt that Frank Lorenzo and ALPA's anti-RJ factions have a lot in common:

-- Formed alter-egos
-- Argued that airline subsidiaries were “separate†companies.
-- Undermined preexisting union contracts
-- Negotiated low-ball pay rates
-- Terms offered on a “take it or leave it†basis
-- Threatened transfer of assets

Even worse, ALPA's motives aren't any more honorable than Lorenzo's, especially in light of the fact that ALPA has a fiduciary obligation to its members whereas Lorenzo did not. Probably the most visible example of ALPA at its worst can be found at US Airways and its implementation of successive Jets-for-Jobs agreements.

There, ALPA made it very clear to the Piedmont, PSA, and Allegheny pilots that ALPA would do business with any “regional†carrier—even non-ALPA or non-union ones—provided they accepted the Jets-for-Jobs protocols. To be blunt, Frank Lorenzo would have been proud to see how ALPA's leadership adapted his tactics in pursuing political expediency over leadership and duty.

For those naive enough to believe that “Brand Scope†will bring equity to ALPA, read the fine print. Under “brand scope,†ALPA's mainline interests will decide how to divvy up the flying. That's a nice way of saying ALPA's mainline interests will retain control of the “whip†as in whip-saw. More importantly, “brand scope†is designed to accommodate, not eliminate, divisions among pilots flying for a single carrier.

But what would really bring a smile to Franks face is that apparently some of ALPA's “mainline†members would rather leave ALPA than see the union defend the piloting profession by upholding its duty of fair representation. In fact, ALPA's representatives have even suggested that they will use this threat to justify the continuation of ALPA's unfair practices!

Yes, the ghost of Frank Lorenzo still haunts ALPA. But rather than exorcizing the demons and learning from past mistakes, ALPA is instead embracing Frank Lorenzo's anti-union tactics. ALPA won't call it “anti-union,†but given the harm suffered by ALPA members flying all aircraft types, that's precisely what it is.

For ALPA's members, the question is whether you feel you job is more secure today than it was four years ago. If not, then demanding a reexamination of ALPA's attitudes and tactics is in order. If you believe ALPA hasn't done anything wrong, then do nothing. That's something even Frank Lorenzo would approve of.
[post="170997"][/post]​

Excellent Comentary and Observation!!

:up: UAL_TECH
 
Lovin737 -" "Why don't the regional pilots bolt from ALPA and form a union that will be an advocate for their interests? Independence Air will show how much or little the regional airline depends on the mainline."

"The mission of the Air Line Pilots Association is …… to represent, in both specific and general respects, the collective interests of all pilots in commercial aviation; to assist in collective bargaining activities on behalf of all pilots represented by the Association; ……and to be the ultimate guardian and defender of the rights and privileges of the professional pilots who are members of the Association."

--ALPA Board of Directors, October 1992


The courts are presently determining if ALPA has misrepresented or systematically committed fraud. If the multiple lawsuits filed achieve success the final outcome most likely will be the disappearance of ALPA as you know it. It's a lot easier to achieve change when working from within as opposed to peering into a festering pile of corruption while deposing the litigants.
 
Long Gone said:
Lovin737 -" "Why don't the regional pilots bolt from ALPA and form a union that will be an advocate for their interests? Independence Air will show how much or little the regional airline depends on the mainline."

"The mission of the Air Line Pilots Association is …… to represent, in both specific and general respects, the collective interests of all pilots in commercial aviation; to assist in collective bargaining activities on behalf of all pilots represented by the Association; ……and to be the ultimate guardian and defender of the rights and privileges of the professional pilots who are members of the Association."

--ALPA Board of Directors, October 1992


The courts are presently determining if ALPA has misrepresented or systematically committed fraud. If the multiple lawsuits filed achieve success the final outcome most likely will be the disappearance of ALPA as you know it. It's a lot easier to achieve change when working from within as opposed to peering into a festering pile of corruption while deposing the litigants.
[post="171419"][/post]​


If ALPA was busted up it would be painful for the priveledged, but in the long run it is necessary to have a national seniority list or there is no point to a union at all, except for the continued exploitation of fellow pilots.

The exorbitant salaries of a few, with seniority opression of the many (who are willing to work for peanuts now so long as they have a missguided hope of being "on top" one day) is the reason there is such disparity in "airline employee life experiences."

If there was no hope of actually scoring it big one day (is anyone paying attention? ALPA is eating its own. The glory days are over.) then salaries would normalize to a level that many people would not be willing to work on the road for 25 days a month. Guess what. That is happening already.
 
Phoenix said:
If ALPA was busted up it would be painful for the priveledged, but in the long run it is necessary to have a national seniority list or there is no point to a union at all, except for the continued exploitation of fellow pilots.

The exorbitant salaries of a few, with seniority opression of the many (who are willing to work for peanuts now so long as they have a missguided hope of being "on top" one day) is the reason there is such disparity in "airline employee life experiences."

If there was no hope of actually scoring it big one day (is anyone paying attention? ALPA is eating its own. The glory days are over.) then salaries would normalize to a level that many people would not be willing to work on the road for 25 days a month. Guess what. That is happening already.
[post="171456"][/post]​

I have no idea what you're trying to say. How can you assume that if something is taken from one pilot it will be given to another less fortunate one? Who is this Robin Hood?

Aren't the regional pilots responsible for themselves? They choose to take the low paying career (no longer a stepping stone) and they negotiate exploitative wage rates for the jets that condemn them to that career for their entire working life. Should ALPA try to preserve the "good job" that most aspire to, or try to make the best of the regional "sentence" and in the process eliminate the possibility of "parole"? Are you speaking from the perspective of a regional pilot that consciously chooses that career for whatever reason?

And how do salaries normalize? As long as someone thinks "This is better than my last job" or "I'll pay my dues until the mainline starts hiring again", they'll take it. Salaries don't normalize until they get to the bottom, I'm afraid. While we are often compared to prostitutes, even hookers don't try to underbid each with the hope that someday that will result in them marrying a rich doctor.

Continuing to pay ALPA without getting adequate representation and then suing them at the same time seems insane. Just because my Chevette has a trailer hitch on the back doesn't mean I can tow a boat behind it. Regardless of what has been represented in the past, you need to get something (or someone) who can get the job done for you first and worry about taking the fraud to court later.
 
luvn737s said:
I have no idea what you're trying to say.
[post="171473"][/post]​


Ha! I think it is funny that you chose to say so much without understanding my point.

Let me try again. Have you heard of COMAIR? Have you heard of MDA? ALPA has been complicit with Mgt. They have stolen retirements from men who have paid ALPA dues for 30+ years (and they are poised to do it again). They have transfered Mainline employees to "third world sweat shops " in exchage for maintaining some of the benefits of the upper seniority of Mainline employees.

ALPA has opened Pandora's Box. Mainline Jobs are now a vapor, evaporating ever so steadily as they are moved to small jets, while passengers still think they are on a "Mainline Company" and still pay Mainline ticket prices. But ALPA has provided Jets for Jobs, soft landings, etc.


This isn't about Robin Hood. This is about betrayal with a kiss.
 
whaledriver said:
InclusiveScope...What is 'NWA 70'?
[post="171368"][/post]​



Whaledriver,
NWA 70 is the new division of NWA that NWA ALPA is proposing to fly 70 seat RJs. I suspect it will morph into a jets4jobs scam at Pinnacle and Mesaba. Are you a NW pilot? Have you not heard about it yet?