This might give light to the moisture behind my ears but.. What's the point of having such a large Union like ALPA if every airline has different contracts with their pilots, paying different rates, and compete with each other (resulting in lower pay rates)? So for example, shouldn't all ALPA members be operating under a single contract? Same pay for flying a given airframe, same rigs, days off etc.

I feel like operating this way would have prevented the mainline/regional pay and benefits inequality that exists today, and especially combat the way regionals are used against each other by their owners (the reason I think American feels the need to own 3 regionals to fly its passengers....). Heck I'd even say with a proper Union (of ALPA's size anyway) the regionals wouldn't exist at all. But this is my first Union job and I'm not savvy to how exactly these big unions are supposed to work. Thoughts?

Forgive me if this is a dead horse, and I do realize the other important things that ALPA and other unions offer. Just thinking out loud..