One of the big problems is the disconnect between mainline ALPA and regional ALPA. Every other skilled trade union has an apprenticeship program. New members are trained and mentored in a structured environment. After a certain number of years and training as an apprentice, you turn out as a journeyman and earn full scale wages and benefits.
Our "union" doesn't operate that way. Despite the advertisements, we don't have a defined pathway to earning a mainline job. All we have is be a captain for two years and you can interview to maybe have a job. If you're not successful, you stay at B/C scale wages without all the other benefits mainline has. But, we're all union "brothers and sisters" and Delta "family" right?