In my opinion, ALPA has NEVER had the regionals best interest at heart. Thier bread and butter comes from Delta, United, and other large paying carriers dues. Seems to me, they are more interested in making sure that the mainline pilot's pay stays up and grows, so they can keep racking in the dues money. They probably only make a fraction of dues from all the regionals they represent, compared to a single large mainline dues cash cow. It seems that ALPA representing a regional AND that regional's mainline partner is contradictory and a conflict of interest. Look at how they let things go down between Pinnacle (Endeavor) and Papa Delta! They let Endeavor get a hugely concessionary contract shoved down their throats, so that Papa Delta could reap larger profits and give pay raises to DALPA pilots. Endeavor's concessionary contract has now set the stage for the new low ball grab that every other regional manager is trying to reach to stay "competitive". Thanks ALPA for allowing that! Or look at how ALPA blessed PSA to take their concessionary contract (out of BK) to low ball Eagle (Envoy's) post BK contract. I'm not trying to start a regional pilot vs mainline pilot war, or a war among regionals (low ballers vs STW'ers), but look at the facts of what ALPA has allowed.

Unfortunately, there is really no way to get away from ALPA. Sure, they do a few good things, here and there, but seems to be just enough to tow the regionals along day to day. From what I hear, Teamsters isn't any better. APA does great things with AA, but doesn't have any interest in representing regionals (which is probably good, as they would have the same conflict of interest that ALPA does). There just isn't another organized labor group that has the financial backing, and influence to represent all regionals together. If the regionals where to find / start another collective bargaining agent, they would have to set a foundation of a rolling minimum acceptable contract standards for ALL regional airline pilot groups. They would also have to set bylaws that prevent whipsawing among it's carriers. These two things are ALPA's weaknesses. If ALPA wants to right side up the regionals, this is where they would need to start.