VIPA application for VirginBlue Union registration dismissed.

[maui]

Guys I am really having a problem here, perhaps you could put me straight. Why does VIPA exist and why is allowing itself to be courted by AIPA?

Apart from Hang Ten the consensus from this and other threads is that unity is paramount, that more can be achieved together than can be when apart.

For a variety of reasons a group in VB and now a few from VA have a desire to do their own thing (VIPA). Reasons as diverse as, disenchantment with the incumbent legally recognised AFAP, and for others power and/or ego.
To assist in their aims and under the guise of unity, VIPA and AIPA have come together for assistance and guidance.

AIPA is an organisation born of a splinter group, who decided that unity within the AFAP was not serving their best interests and that they wanted to do their own thing.
Led by two who subsequently became management (Westwood and Cant), rather than staying unified and working to change the structure of AFAP, to allow themselves a little more autonomy, they petulantly stormed out and broke unity within the pilot ranks of Australia.

From that action, evolved a change in the AFAP structure such that now there are several “Councils” (as well as Branches) working under the one umbrella. The pilots who are now AIPA could have been a part of that structure, but they chose disunity.
That same group, in more recent times, refused to recognise or assist those pilots who have become Jetstar. Now that Jetstar are taking away great chunks of mainline work, AIPA are suddenly interested in taking those pilots under their wing, IN THE NAME OF UNITY.

VB have always posed a threat to Q Dom flying and now we have VA on the scene as a potential threat to Q mainline flying. Given the chameleonic nature of AIPA is it any surprise that suddenly they want to embrace the V A&B pilots, in the spirit of unity of course. Gentlemen that is utter BS.

AIPA want to have a degree of control over any entity that has the potential to erode the Q network. Fair call that is what they are paid to do, protect their AIPA members.

The point is, do not be seduced by protestations of brotherly love, they are a single focus group, and if they suck you in they will exert control, to their benefit, not necessarily yours.

If you are unhappy with the AFAP, get in and take responsibility.
Nominate for membership of your council or branch and do some work for yourselves. It is a self help organisation, with tremendous resources, but the outcomes will only be a reflection of the input.
If you choose not to have representation that is your choice, always has been, and will be respected by the AFAP.
If you have had a bad experience with AFAP, look at the circumstances and ask yourself was the outcome reasonable given the circumstances or was I expecting too much.
A union cannot and should not defend reckless, irresponsible or criminal behaviour. A union can only defend a just process.
If you still have a problem write it all down and send it to Albert Road, don’t get on the phone and rant.
As far as terms and conditions are concerned, have a look at where you are now. Who has achieved what you have now. Was it AIPA? Was it VIPA?

The government and 6 airlines failed to destroy the AFAP and such is the nature of things that the only one left standing out of all the protagonists, is the AFAP. Learn to live with it cos it will be around until you retire. Better stiil get behind it and mould it to what you want. You can do a lot more with constituted play-doh than you can with the unmixed ingredients.

Maui