Originally Posted by Elvis90

From a July 26 hotline from Boston base chairman Steve Bacon that upset Bates and ALPA:

"I cannot fathom anyone expecting to have a unified voice of labor when the largest Pilot labor organization speaks for the commuters and regionals over the wishes of the majors, many of them belonging to and paying the lion's share of the dues. They have screwed us on Duty time, ATP Requirements, age 65, security screening, and drug testing, as well, and as much as their own members.

"The support we 'get' for the negotiating coach (Professional Negotiator) and EF+A committee we 'get ' for a half million / year. There is no benevolence, just business. With their loss of the TWA DFR suit, ALPA is left holding the bag for 1.2 billion dollars. (pending appeal) It's a good time for the major airlines to start thinking about organizing a pilots union that represents the issues of our craft and trade, external to ALPA, and without it's 300K plus salaries.

" ALPA is presently attempting to organize Jet Blue. You can read about it at jetblueoc.org I am personally Very much in favor of Jet Blue organizing, I just question whom they are being courted by. I will not support it. I think (opinion) their pilots would be better served by becoming an independent and associating with CAPA so our common interests can be heard without having to placate the non-ancillary constituencies. Short of that, labor unity isn't going to be achieved any sooner than $3.00 Red Sox tickets."