Originally Posted by Tin-Tin
ALPA is the biggest joke EVER...They have been robbing pilots for far too long! Solidarity is much more efficient for only R55.00 a month!!
Airlink pilots received a 23 percent increase last year..They should not expect anything more than CPIX this year.. If you are not happy go and get a real job...
and
Originally Posted by Setron
No doubt, ALPA is an organisation, that does at times a good job!
It's just that it let itself be abused as a vehicle for personal gains and when they realized that, it was already too late. So they fired the chairman...
I'm afraid both of you are a bit clueless when it comes to the inner workings of ALPA-SA.
1. The branch committees are nominated and elected by the pilot body of each airline. ALPA-SA has absolutely no influence on who gets elected. ALPA will simply facilitate the election process (print ballot papers, supply a venue for branch meetings and AGM's, etc.).
2. ALPA does not interfere or even prescribe how the branch should conduct their business. The role of ALPA is to supply support to the various branches. This is normally in form of access to specialists (labour practitioners, legal experts, etc).
3. Most of ALPA's work happens behind the scenes. For example: Legislation has just been passed that limits access to CVR information. The information contained on the CVR may only be used by the accident investigation team. This prevents transcripts ending up in the media where it may cause embarrassment or undue prosecution of air crews. The legislation is the product of many months of hard work by ALPA although very few pilots in the country is aware of it's existence - until they day it saves their butt's.
4. ALPA also provides support to individual members. The preparation of post accident/incident statements is an example. The crews of the nationwide accident in Cape Town and the Comair crew in Durban will testify of its value. Members are regularly supported in case at the Labour Court and sometimes even the Appeals Court of South Africa. In vast the majority of these cases the members win substantial financial compensation from greedy or unscrupulous employers (and all the legal costs are carried by ALPA - How's that for "Bang for your Buck"?)
5. Salary negotiations are up to the branch committees, with ALPA not getting involved in all. Should negotiations end in a stalemate, ALPA will supply suitably qualified arbitrators that are acceptable to all parties. If negotiations fail and industrial action (a strike by the pilots for example) follow, ALPA will organise the repatriation of stranded crews back to home base.
6. ALPA is continually involved at the highest level to ensure that airports comply to ICAO Annex 14 (Aerodrome Design and Operation). An example would be the runway safe area (or over run as it is known to some) at FAEL. The gradient of runway 11's overrun did not comply to the requirements of Annex 14. ACSA believed that by simply publishing a NOTAM, the problem would be solved. ALPA intervened and forced ACSA to reconstruct the area. Work should be complete by the end of October, making operation into FAEL safer for all.
And so the list continues - but I believe you're getting my drift.
If you two believe for one second that Solidarity has the know-how, influence or ability to accomplish half of the above (even at R55-00 a month!), you may be a lot slower than your parents have led you to believe.
The blame for poor performance by the last APA (Airlink Pilots Association) should be laid squarely at the feet of the members. 99% of pilots would not consider sacrificing their free time - and often money - to perform association activities (yes, it is a volunteer job and often requires extensive sacrifice).
If you want an association to work you need to stand together, pitch in when help is required and stay involved. The last point is very important - if the committee starts heading of on their own tangent, it should be swiftly pointed out and corrected - even it means electing a new committee
I suggest you get a grip and stop slagging an organisation whose activities are hugely beneficial to the vast majority of pilots in this country.