If we in the AOA want to increase membership, it is as simple as LOOKING AFTER THE CURRENT MEMBERS! I keep seeing all this discussion of how to get quitters to rejoin. All the while there is less and less talk of whats in the best interest of the full membership because we focus on too many minor issues. There are about 280 S/O's, in the AOA, who stand to have a huge(millions) financial penalty if DEFO's go through....yet this is barely discussed. Will they stay in the AOA if we don't protect them? Will new joining S/O's join the AOA if they see that S/O interests are not on the AOA's agenda? Not Likely. This would cripple membership numbers now and for the next 30 years as these are the longest term members we can get! Dispite this we are talking about trying to get back a small number of rejoiners. Many of the "quitters"( and I say "quitters" with no animosity or contempt
) Wont rejoin because of issues OTHER than money. They were unhappy with the AOA not looking after their interests. I agree generally that the more members we have the better, but if quitters are allowed back with no financal retribution, how will those who stayed and carried the financial burden react? Will they stay?
Everyone will have their career progression slowed if age 60 goes through....yet we quibble about rejoiners. RP04 looms ahead......and we talk about how to get a few guys to come back into the fold. DEFO's...No pay rise in how many years......we talk about rejoiners. without question there will be age 60 and DEFO's. The issue is what we are going to get in order to have a fair balance. Nobody seems to be discussing this however. If it is being discussed, I am not hearing any updates from the AOA.
If we want people in the AOA, we need to make it an organization where it's benefit is obvious to it's membership. By focusing on important issues and protecting the interests of the membership, we can do just that. The company is notorious for playing one group of pilots against another. A vs. B scale, Based vs Hong Kong. Freight vs Pax. They appeal to one group and cut another's CofS. We have to start looking at things as a single group!
If we build it....they will join.