Originally Posted by ATCsaidDoWhat

That can't happen with ALPA. While part of the AFL-CIO, it has always held itself out to be a "cut above" those "other" unions and airline employees. They don't support other unions and as a result, they don't get support. Look at the Amerijet strike. South FL AFL-CIO had members of all unions on the picket lines. There were cops, firefighters, teachers, garbagemen, bus drivers, individual airline MEC's and LEC's...you name it. Fuelers in the Carribbean cut off fuel. Other cargo airlines refused to carry their cargo. Only one national union was missing.

ALPA.

When the AFL-CIO shows up in force and it's major pilot union doesn't...it sends a message to others.

That is the problem created when you refuse to adapt and stand alone. You get no support.

How does that relate to the question at hand? Simple. By refusing to focus on true unity and truly standing up for each other, ALPA has allowed itself to become a place where everyone does pretty much what they want and the heck with the other guy. At the same time, they became so focused on $$, they did things that harmed members to improve the bottom line of the Association, not the members. TWA bit back. So will AirTran. Others likely may as well. And ALPA has no understanding of why or how to deal with it, so it falls back on the old mantra of discrediting the malcontents.

Which worked in the days where we operated with mailings, letters and whispering campaigns. Times changed with the demise of the CAB and now with electronic media and social networking.

And again, ALPA has not. The pilots are more informed. And like Churchill said, "Dictators run to and fro on the backs of tigers they dare not dismount. And the tigers are getting hungry."

If you want to see how a true airline union works and it's effectiveness, seek out one that represents all types of airline employees and look at how they are doing today.