It won't happen. The last 2 meeting in CLT had 40 people(33 rsv's and 7 BH's) and 15 people(mostly rsv's). Noone shows up. BH's don't show up because their lives are pretty damn good right now. They have multiple ways to adjust their schedules, they have rsv's trying to pick-up their trips(just to get a decent paycheck). What the hell are they going to go to the meeting for. Not enough rsv's show up to show our union that we really mean business. When Pat Friend was at the last CLT meeting, it might as well have been a private meeting between her and I. There wasn't anyone there. She was really surprised. Both of these meeting lasted about 5 hours. The only BH's who showed up were i uniform(meaning they were probably checking in for their trips or just between flights).
It is difficult for people to make meetings for various reasons. I know as a reserve the meetings are always on days that I end up working. So, I have been to very few.
While trolling the reserve AFA66 reserve board link somebody posted, I noticed several things they do that we do not, and it made me think of a few things I would like to see our union do.
First, a reserve board is a great idea. It makes finding information quick and easy to find.
Second, letting members send in questions, comments, etc. via e-mail to the union meetings. What a GREAT idea.
Third, tape the meeting - either audio or video would be okay and make it available for view/download off the site. If they can't do that then at the very least make a transcript of the meeting available within 24 hours.
Fourth, during the meetings they could use a laptop to open up a chat room. In the chat room members can ask questions, make statements, etc., that can be shared with those at the meeting. Heck they could even hold a virtual meeting if they wanted to.
Fifth, a secure union message board.
We are a group that is operating under strained conditions. Some people commute, some people are working second jobs, some are working ETB on their days off and just cannot make it to a meeting. It does not mean that they do not have questions and concerns they want to express. The easier the union makes it for the members to get involved the more that will get involved. As an added benefit, once the lines of communication are established and easier the block holders and reserves will start to understand each other and work with each other.
Right now, it just seems that the union doesn't want to use the technology that is available that would enable the membership to become more active. Right now, it seems they like us in the dark.
Too bad for them that some of us are crawling out into the light and we will be bringing others with us.