You have just laid out the case for why ALPA won't survive. It has nothing to do with "getting into" the regional business and EVERYTHING to do with NOT getting into it.

In the early 80's when the legacies were still running around trying to protect their "post CAB" turf, ALPA was too myopic to see the future. Instead of getting together and forming a "farm team" concept, they fought the "commuters" as pond scum, beneath their dignity. (This from the same guys who got hired in the '60's with 250 hours and a wet Comm/Inst ticket.

The managements saw the bar fight coming and realized it was the perfect storm. They would use the "commuters" to feed the mainline and get those guys the time they wanted. The MEC's and ALPA crapped on those guys and created a built in animus between the soon to be new hire legacy pilots and the old guys. The old guys, protecting their own backs, voted in B scales and other nice things to screw the junior guys.

Another generation of eating your young was born, SERVED UP by ALPA.

Had ALPA stood up and said, "they come on the master list of the legacy they feed, and they get first crack at a job...with flow back if the legacy furloughs..." and the MEC's stood up for the now "regionals" when they were getting hammered on their first contracts...this industry would be vastly stronger and we wouldn't have seen the ongoing cycle of give back, fight back and give bank again.

"Long term pay security? Give us a no strike" "Snap backs? More hours for less pay." On and on. Look at the cycle. It takes about 10 years to almost get back, and then the economy pushes it all away. And ALPA's response? Shoot the regionals. Bruce York said it..."if we didn't have to deal with pilots, ALPA would be a great place." Ask the unionized staff how they get treated in negotiations. The name Lorenzo comes up. Why did the NMB make them post PAGES of a ruling on the doors over the way they violated labor law during negotiations...and illegally FIRED 6 people...including a senior contract administrator?

ALPA has some real issues on their hands. The TWA lawsuit settlement will cost with a B as in Billion plus. Yes, they have insurance to pay it. After that, it will be tough to get insurance. The UAL suits are out there.

And then there is DAL. If the group has the cards to drop...and I'm betting they have them and are just waiting...it's over.

Why? Simple. Because the outcome of the vote won't matter. UAL/CAL is NOT going to be the last legacy there waiting to shut off the lights. They too will run a decert drive and race DAL to the door. Either one leaves? ALPA hasn't got the cashflow to survive. It implodes.

And the legacies that they have all crapped on will suddenly be their new best friends.

They're not stupid. They remember how they got the shaft.

Thanks to ALPA, another generation of our young will be eaten. This time however, they WILL remember. And if a legacy calls, they will go...picket line or not. Because the paper tiger is gone.

Management; who began playing the "long game" post CAB...will have won over ALPA's "short game."

We will all find out that as far as they are concerned, we are not much more than glorified bus drivers who haul passengers, or truckers who haul freight.

"But we'll STRIKE!!" you say. "Go ahead," they will counter. "Those regional guys who flew glass are waiting...and they REMEMBER"