Originally Posted by
ExperimentalAB
When AWAC, just for argument's sake, goes into contract talks with it's Pilot group, sure ALPA is there and will fight for a better contract (that is the less so part - but they won't win any awards doing it, either), but rarely will they go very far
You have absolutely no facts to support your contention that ALPA National wouldn't "go very far" in its support of AWAC or any other carrier during contract negotiations. Look no further than Expressjet as a recent example, or ACA/Comair/AWAC in 2001 for past precedent.
ALPA National has helped the ARW MEC immensely in our grievance and subsequent arbitration to overturn our concessionary agreement and get our 2001 contract back. We won that grievance but are waiting for an arbitrator to decide "a fair and just remedy", the outcome of which ALPA has no control whatsoever over.
(how many regional strikes have there been lately?)
Since Comair in summer 2001? None. Mesaba negotiated past their strike deadline in 2004 to secure their contract, but as I recall they canceled all their flights that day anyway. Since Mesaba, I don't think any regionals have been released by the NMB to strike, and that is a very important fact that cannot be forgotten. I'm 100% confident if ASA got released Monday that 30 days from then they'd either have a TA they'd ratify or be walking the picket line in ATL.
and really, at the bitter end, we are all just small potatos to them anyway - their business relies on the business of the Mainlines Pilot groups, not us...they'll always say they're looking out for all of us, but it is impossible to represent both Mainline and Feeder equally.
I agree somewhat with this statement. Mainline pilot groups do provide the bulk of dues revenue for ALPA National...but that doesn't mean small jet carriers will get universally sold out by National like you insinuate. Sold out by the mainline pilot group? Perhaps...but National? NO, because to do so would expose them to a massive Denial of Fair Representation liability.
Besides, vastly superior regional contracts are in the best interest of mainline pilots. The higher-priced small jet lift costs, the more the economics support mainline taking back that outsourced flying, leading to more jobs at the mainline carriers which is what most of us flying RJs want in the end.