"Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…"
Winston Churchill

ALPA was formed for the same reasons that the UAW, UMW, Teamsters, and all the other "legacy" unions were formed: to try to stop workers from being no more value than a piece of machinery.

ALPA pilots first fought for safety, then a living wage and job security.... As did most of those other unions.

As the industry changed, ALPA had to adjust to new pressures. Were those adjustments (in HINDSIGHT) the best? Probably not. But they were, in most cases, the best guess anyone could make.

I am not defending the bad decisions that ALPA has made, but to paraphrase Churchill, no one pretends that ALPA is perfect or all-wise. But having ALPA is far better than having no union.

Remember, those guys in the 20s and 30s that formed the unions were first trying to protect themselves. After that, they were trying to protect those who came after. Like it or not, Unions protect the most senior members... just as many cultures give the first born the lion's share of the legacy.

IF you feel your union leadership is not acting in your best interest, vote them out. BUT realize if you are a 20something expecting to be in a widebody, and having your union get you that seat, in 30 years there will be a bunch of 20 somethings who expect the same thing.