I don't think you understand my question. You say why does IT exist, while I say why do THEY exist under the banner of one while they act on their own (often at the expense of their counterparts)? That is what I find silly. And the fact that one group represents pilots from both mainline and the regionals (basically A vs. B scale) at the same time is even more silly. AND the fact that regional pilots pay money to an association for this type of "representation" is just, well you get where I'm going.

If an airline's pilot group is to be unionized (which I think it should be), then maybe it should have it's own union and not collaborate (and pay money to) an association that does little to protect its interests. Of course in magical fairy land one union (or association) would have one contract and one pay scale, and represent their group as a whole...but I guess that doesn't make sense in today's world?