R57, some facts:

- If we switch to ALPA, there exists the mechanism in place to lower our dues down to approximately what we pay APA today, maybe slightly higher but not the current ALPA dues.

- in BK, all airlines will get spanked no matter what union represents them.

- in mergers, pilot groups will get spanked no matter what union represents them.

- prior to 9/11, USAir enjoyed a very nice ALPA contract with good work rules and pay.

- the membership drives the union. In our case, our membership is so disenfranchised and split over APA's failures that nobody wants to fight. Under an ALPA switch, it is my belief that the AAL pilot membership would be reinvigorated in getting a fresh start and ditching the old guard: they'd have a renewed fight in them.

- finally, who'd you rather P/K face across the negotiating table and the membership? a weak, broken in-house limited association that constantly trades pilot jobs for work rules... or the world' largest and strongest pilot union with the support of the two other big gorillas (dal/UAL) plus all the other ALPA-affiliated groups?

Management's biggest wet dream is to have to face in-house associations that are limited in what they can get. Crandall had such an easy sell to APA with B-scales because he knew that ALPA pilot groups would fight it tooth and nail. He knew that APA would roll over like a hog in the mud, salivating over increased jobs while not having to worry about accountability from the other ALPA pilot groups. Slam, dunk for management. That right there speaks volumes.

We owe it to ourselves to explore a switch. Out with the old, broken system, in with a new opportunity.

I've got an awesome article on the benefits of an AAL switch to ALPA coming soon that will explain and clear a lot of questions.