Originally Posted by
RV5M
I read the passage. Immediately after BF decides to pay he changes the whole system. Anyway, a lot of that book is written as satire so I'm always a little wary of taking its advice lest I later learn it was meant to be a joke.
Economics aside, the intimidation/poor treatment the union uses to keep people in line is, in itself, a red flag for me. If airline unions are the best choice, why is the issue not open to discussion? Instead, dissenters are suppressed while the union entrenches itself with laws and red tape. How quickly would ALPA fall apart in Right to Work states without the Railway Labor Act?
It's all incredibly complex. I'm not out to get the union and was just looking for examples of poor treatment. Surprisingly little is written about the system, so getting involved would be a good way to understand it better.
In the case of an individual pilot who chooses not to be a member, I don't think the poor treatment is sanctioned or encouraged by the union leadership - in fact I'm pretty sure they would discourage it. Where it does exist it comes from the rank and file membership itself.
Personally, I would never treat anyone differently based on a decision to be a member or not. I might rationally discuss their reasons with them, but I'd never let it become personal, and would get along fine with them.