InclusiveScope
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Commentary: Frank Lorenzo Would be Proud
Frank Lorenzo, ALPA's arch-enemy of the 1980’s, used alter-ego carriers to whipsaw ALPA's members and undermine the union’s strength. But if Texas Air had purchased regional jets instead of 727’s, Frank Lorenzo may have very well have succeeded in destroying ALPA—with the help of the union’s leadership.
While duly striking, this view is not as far-fetched as it may sound given that in the last four years ALPA has endorsed the creation of more alter-egos than Frank Lorenzo ever imagined. Naturally, ALPA doesn't call them alter-ego airlines. Instead, ALPA uses such terms as “Jets for Jobs†carriers, NWA 70, or the “Embraer Division†of US Airways (i.e. Mid-Atlantic.)
Mindful that alter-ego airlines are used to manipulate and exploit pilots, there can be little doubt that Frank Lorenzo and ALPA's anti-RJ factions have a lot in common:
-- Formed alter-egos
-- Argued that airline subsidiaries were “separate†companies.
-- Undermined preexisting union contracts
-- Negotiated low-ball pay rates
-- Terms offered on a “take it or leave it†basis
-- Threatened transfer of assets
Even worse, ALPA's motives aren't any more honorable than Lorenzo's, especially in light of the fact that ALPA has a fiduciary obligation to its members whereas Lorenzo did not. Probably the most visible example of ALPA at its worst can be found at US Airways and its implementation of successive Jets-for-Jobs agreements.
There, ALPA made it very clear to the Piedmont, PSA, and Allegheny pilots that ALPA would do business with any “regional†carrier—even non-ALPA or non-union ones—provided they accepted the Jets-for-Jobs protocols. To be blunt, Frank Lorenzo would have been proud to see how ALPA's leadership adapted his tactics in pursuing political expediency over leadership and duty.
For those naive enough to believe that “Brand Scope†will bring equity to ALPA, read the fine print. Under “brand scope,†ALPA's mainline interests will decide how to divvy up the flying. That's a nice way of saying ALPA's mainline interests will retain control of the “whip†as in whip-saw. More importantly, “brand scope†is designed to accommodate, not eliminate, divisions among pilots flying for a single carrier.
But what would really bring a smile to Franks face is that apparently some of ALPA's “mainline†members would rather leave ALPA than see the union defend the piloting profession by upholding its duty of fair representation. In fact, ALPA's representatives have even suggested that they will use this threat to justify the continuation of ALPA's unfair practices!
Yes, the ghost of Frank Lorenzo still haunts ALPA. But rather than exorcizing the demons and learning from past mistakes, ALPA is instead embracing Frank Lorenzo's anti-union tactics. ALPA won't call it “anti-union,†but given the harm suffered by ALPA members flying all aircraft types, that's precisely what it is.
For ALPA's members, the question is whether you feel you job is more secure today than it was four years ago. If not, then demanding a reexamination of ALPA's attitudes and tactics is in order. If you believe ALPA hasn't done anything wrong, then do nothing. That's something even Frank Lorenzo would approve of.
Frank Lorenzo, ALPA's arch-enemy of the 1980’s, used alter-ego carriers to whipsaw ALPA's members and undermine the union’s strength. But if Texas Air had purchased regional jets instead of 727’s, Frank Lorenzo may have very well have succeeded in destroying ALPA—with the help of the union’s leadership.
While duly striking, this view is not as far-fetched as it may sound given that in the last four years ALPA has endorsed the creation of more alter-egos than Frank Lorenzo ever imagined. Naturally, ALPA doesn't call them alter-ego airlines. Instead, ALPA uses such terms as “Jets for Jobs†carriers, NWA 70, or the “Embraer Division†of US Airways (i.e. Mid-Atlantic.)
Mindful that alter-ego airlines are used to manipulate and exploit pilots, there can be little doubt that Frank Lorenzo and ALPA's anti-RJ factions have a lot in common:
-- Formed alter-egos
-- Argued that airline subsidiaries were “separate†companies.
-- Undermined preexisting union contracts
-- Negotiated low-ball pay rates
-- Terms offered on a “take it or leave it†basis
-- Threatened transfer of assets
Even worse, ALPA's motives aren't any more honorable than Lorenzo's, especially in light of the fact that ALPA has a fiduciary obligation to its members whereas Lorenzo did not. Probably the most visible example of ALPA at its worst can be found at US Airways and its implementation of successive Jets-for-Jobs agreements.
There, ALPA made it very clear to the Piedmont, PSA, and Allegheny pilots that ALPA would do business with any “regional†carrier—even non-ALPA or non-union ones—provided they accepted the Jets-for-Jobs protocols. To be blunt, Frank Lorenzo would have been proud to see how ALPA's leadership adapted his tactics in pursuing political expediency over leadership and duty.
For those naive enough to believe that “Brand Scope†will bring equity to ALPA, read the fine print. Under “brand scope,†ALPA's mainline interests will decide how to divvy up the flying. That's a nice way of saying ALPA's mainline interests will retain control of the “whip†as in whip-saw. More importantly, “brand scope†is designed to accommodate, not eliminate, divisions among pilots flying for a single carrier.
But what would really bring a smile to Franks face is that apparently some of ALPA's “mainline†members would rather leave ALPA than see the union defend the piloting profession by upholding its duty of fair representation. In fact, ALPA's representatives have even suggested that they will use this threat to justify the continuation of ALPA's unfair practices!
Yes, the ghost of Frank Lorenzo still haunts ALPA. But rather than exorcizing the demons and learning from past mistakes, ALPA is instead embracing Frank Lorenzo's anti-union tactics. ALPA won't call it “anti-union,†but given the harm suffered by ALPA members flying all aircraft types, that's precisely what it is.
For ALPA's members, the question is whether you feel you job is more secure today than it was four years ago. If not, then demanding a reexamination of ALPA's attitudes and tactics is in order. If you believe ALPA hasn't done anything wrong, then do nothing. That's something even Frank Lorenzo would approve of.
UAL_TECH
