Unions in this country, especially pilots unions, are only interested in on thing.
COVERAGE! They dont care about their members. They dont listen to their members. Thats why the AFAP and AIPA fight in court, spending our membership fees for coverage, instead of getting together and fighting these issues such as the 457 Visa issue, and creating EBAs that are indicitive of the current situation, PILOT SHORTAGE.
They have stopped listening to their members and will suffer the consequences. Such as new unions forming and stripping the their pilot membership, ie VIPA. Pay and conditions have been eroded by not only the individuals choice of employment, but also lack of Union leadership and a clear stand on issues. Unions are gun shy from 89, they lack passion, they lack soul, and they are outdated in their thinking. They blame the pilots for outcomes when it suits them, and take the credit when it suits them.
They could not give a rats about us, just look at our pay and conditions now compared to years gone by. Yes we as pilots are partly to blame, yet the Unions have to take some responsibility too. At the end of the day, we pay your salary too Mr Union Man. Have you taken a pay cut lately Mr Union Man? Have you had someone come and take your promotion lately on a 457 Visa lately Mr Union Man? Do you have to operate 90 hours of flying in 28 days Mr Union Man? Dont forget Mr Union Man, we pay your food bill!
