Paying dues is a minor issue in my mind, the cost of the dues is very far down on my list of considerations...

You will certainly get a return on the value of your dues from the fringe benefits alone (legal, safety, job protections etc).

But by far the most important issue is that you are bestowing a great deal of power on a group of individuals at your company and at the national organaztion...

Are they right people?

Do their personal interests coincide with your personal interests? (union MEC's tend to get stocked with lifer CA's at the regionals...not that there's anything wrong with that, but they may have a different agenda).

Does the national organization have interests and agendas that coincide with yours? Are they even able to do anything about your issues?


Historically, union-empowered senior pilots have an abysmal track record when it comes to taking care of junior pilots:

- B-scales.
- Scope Trade-aways.
- The regional/major caste system.
- Multiple lists under one brand (keeps the cost of feed flying low, thereby benefiting wide-body pilots).

I'm not saying don't vote for a union, but you should understand how human nature will tend to drive the dynamics and be prepared to deal with those dynamics or suffer the consequences.