Originally Posted by
HermannGraf
Very smart attempt to sound wise explaining capitalism and explaining how unions cannot work ( that they only provide medical council, etc) and how higher salaries for pilots would not work at the Regional level because it always takes the cost up for the company.
It sounds like you are very anti union but trying to cover it with nice explanations that many will easely swallow. Not me, I see right trough you. Capitalism out of control is what we have at the regional level and that is not something acceptable, good, cool or "nothing to do about". Don't get me wrong, I believe in Capitalism and it is the best system while it is healthy but when it get sick or out of control it destroys everything if not controlled and corrected.
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that ALPA did not work or did not help in other Regionals was mainly because the companies were bad managed companies to begin with.
I wasn't trying to be wise, or disguise my feelings on anything. I was merely stating one of the two major reasons why our current regional structure and union representation therein does not work very well. I think if anything my post lays out a somewhat convincing groundwork for more unity amongst the unionized regional pilots.
The other major point worth discussing in regards to ALPA, and itself being a union that represents all airline pilots, is that there is a conflict of interest. If the regional unions were able to band together and demand a minimum union wage (for each seat and A/C size), that would put pressure on their regional management, increase their costs, which would in turn increase the cost for the major airlines and they would attempt to pass that through to their labor (pilot) group. Nothing sinister, just capitalism 101: Divide and conquer. You already have ill will from the mainline pilots towards a lot of regional "outsourcing." Much of which the labor groups have transferred to the workers at the regionals themselves. How much worse do you think that would be if there was additional propaganda aimed at them, telling them their raises couldn't be had because of increased cost at the regionals?
The question that you have to ask, is: is the average pilot at a mainline carrier more concerned with the health of their respective airline and their career viability? Or the airline profession as a whole? I don't think you would get an overwhelming answer either way, it would be a large gray area. Therefore the interest of the regional airline pilot are different than those of a major airline pilot, so how can you have one union representing them both effectively?
Bottom line, capitalism punishes the apathetic unmercifully. And at this point our culture is probably too me-centric and shortsighted to band together for the benefit of the group. It's a natural progression (and decline) of a successful democracy. Management is playing chess, and we are playing checkers. Your description Herman, of the Skywest pay proposal and how it is actually cost neutral for management, demonstrates this point exactly.
To recap the two problems are:
1. That as subcontractors or "vendors" we are replaceable, and to have any leverage against the legacy managements (who are the real force trying to drive down the cost, not regional management), labor at the regional level would have to unify.
2. The regional growth phenomenon has produced a new set of pilots, that have a vested interest in making a regional airline a long-term prospect. This ultimately runs counter to the interests of the average mainline pilot. One single union cannot champion the interests of both. It is impossible and that is why ALPA is not very effective