The exchange with clunk1001 points to the big dilemma the pilot group is in. The overall working conditions of the pilot group has changed dramatically to the bad side, but nobody except yourself, your management and a few informed outsiders know about that situation. Your management will not change anything for you if it costs money, except they are forced to do so by regulations.
There is no need to like Clunk1001's way of telling things, but is he wrong? The public and the regulator sees the pilot job exactly like clunk1001 is telling you, and as long as this perception is present, nothing will change for you. As I said before, you can complain all day long on forums, blogs or within your group, that does not change the perception which people outside the pilots group have. It does not help either when a single pilots pops up and states his point to his individual management, he will loose big time and nobody is taking notice of it.
You have to get yourself organized first in small groups, which themselves get organized in national and international clusters. Existing union structures might be helpfull, but not everywhere and not anytime. You have to speak in one language about the same case with the same desire for improvement, and you have to adress the correct people with it. Those people are not other pilots with the same problems, and it's neither the management nor the regulators, not until the final phase. Get public attention for your problems, talk to your customers, talk to the public through journalists, and talk to the politicians through your local party people. The German "Vereinigung Cockpit" in itself is a good example, but unfortunately singled out due to missing international fruitfull partnership.
It is not an easy task and not done in a few years, but it can be done if the right people are willing to lead the way and most of the pilots assist with membership, funding and information. The existing unions will have not much choice, they either have to follow the will of the pilot group or they will be replaced by other better representative newer organisations.
Arguing against clunk1001 is a waste of time, not due to his way of posting, but because he can't do anything for your case as I can't do as well. I see his arguing position more on your side than against your case, but it is easier to counter his words than adressing the correct people.
Last edited by RetiredF4; 11th May 2015 at 04:57.