TonyC

I will not try to speak for individuals and their personal reasons for disliking ALPA. In many cases, I have witnessed misplaced anger. In some cases, they may have been unfairly treated -- by their own peers that volunteer their service to the benefit of the entire pilot group. We're humans, and sometimes we make mistakes. ALPA is not a "magic pill" that will cure all ills or make people perfect.

I also won't try to explain the long history of collective bargaining at other properties. Books have been written on the subject. I won't even try to explain how on my own property ALPA won the first representation election, was replaced by an "In-house" union, and then how that "In-house" union merged with ALPA when we saw that it was to our collective benefit.

I won't try to speculate on why representation elections have failed. I have found a high prevalence of "it won't affect" me attitudes at a property where there is rapid turnover and a willingness to suffer pain in return for a quick upgrade and a leg up to a job with "the majors." I don't know if that's the primary reason, but I'm certain it's a tough hurdle to success.

However, more important than those three questions is this: what will ALPA do for you? In addition to the pilot volunteers you will have working in your local organization, you'll have the support of a full-time national staff that includes:

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National Committees support local airline committees in critical areas such as Air Safety, Security, Flight Time/Duty Time, and Jumpseat.

The local pilot group makes its own decisions related to contract provisions, strategic planning and priorities, and pilot group initiatives, but it has full access to the complete array of ALPA's professional, financial, and other resources. ALPA is truly by pilots for pilots.

The question is whether you want to be an at-will employee that can be fired for no cause, working under "rules" that can be changed on a whim, risking your livelihood and future for an employer that views you as little more than a cost center to be minimized, or whether you want real work rules with real protections and a real expectation of career progression and protection. The stakes are high, and the hazards are real. When it comes to putting food on the table for my family, I have a responsibility to stick to the conservative bets, and avail myself of every advantage and protection I can get. In that light, ALPA is a far better value than my auto insurance.



Sorry for the length -- and that's just my opinion.





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