Originally Posted by
Fins Up
The thing is that EVERY pilot I have flown with since the talk of representation has come up seems to have a deep hatred for ALPA. I'm not in a hurry. I'd rather see us take the time, even if it's several years, to get a union that the majority is comfortable with than vote in a union that so many have such disdain for.
The problem is that most of them are probably furloughees who blame ALPA for the furlough instead of USAir and UAL management. That is misplaced. All ALPA can do is attempt to ameliorate the fallout from bad management. Of course, the rest are probably TWA guys who don't understand that the merger/fragmentation policy doesn't apply when an ALPA carrier is acquired by a carrier with another Union. All ALPA could do for those guys is try to soften the blow of the crappy list merger they got stuck with.
Redeye is right about the resources ALPA would bring you. However, YOU are right in the idea that its better to go inhouse than to vote in an organization that your membership has heartburn with.
Unions are only as strong as the membership. And if you're all not pulling in the same direction, you're pulling yourselves and your bargaining strength apart.