Originally Posted by duvie

MEC = Master Executive Council. Basically they are the guys who run the union at the airline. The strength, integrity and basically all characteristics of the union vary drastically from airline to airline. ALPA national doesn't do much more than collect the 2% from your paycheck. Each MEC is a democracy that is put into place by the pilots and NOT watched over at all by national.

I hate to beat a dead horse but look at Mesa for example. They are ALPA and they have some of the worst work rules in the industy. They are a prime example of the weakness of ALPA national and the precarious position you put yourself in by electing a spineless MEC. Generally ALPA at a regional is no more than a bee sting for management. Its enough to anger them without actually doing any harm or posturing with any real power.