Originally Posted by
dckozak
I'm really surprised this is a debate among union members. One of the main reasons non members are non members is financial, the ability to get something for nothing.
Why should we all subsidize these cheapskates?? If they have a fundamental issues with this union or any union (membership) they are free to quit and proudly wear their "non union" status as they see fit. In my experience few pilots that aren't members make themselves visible as such. Most would rather you didn't know and assume you thought they were in the union. Everyone benefits from the union's work, and it all cost money. Remove the financial incentive to not participating in the organization that protects/improves our profession, if someone is still unwilling to be a team player, at least they'd paid there share.
We are pretty much in agreement. When DW and the NC said we were going after Agency Shop they never mentioned (that I am aware of) that they would be grandfathering those who weren't currently members. That little piece of info might have dimmed a lot of the enthusiasm from the crowd about Agency Shop and how much we were willing to give up in order to get it.
BC said it cost nothing, and I believe in the tooth fairy. EVERYTHING cost something. Whatever the cost was, and EVEN IF it were truly free, it wasn't worth it, in my opinion.
If Agency shop was so important, we should have required everyone to be made whole, not just the new guys coming on the property.
Furthermore, last I checked this is still a free country, and I have a problem with people being forced into membership in a union. I look at it like helmet laws, I am completely against them. I can't for the life of me, however, figure out why anyone would take the risk of riding a motorcycle without one.
For most guys I can't imagine why they wouldn't be in the union, but it is still a free country and they should have that choice. New hires should have the same choice the old guys got when they were hired. Either we're all in or we're not.
Personally, if I had walked the line and then watched ALPA embrace scabs and allow them into the union, I would probably not join the union either. Lucky for me that hasn't happened (to me), but if it did I would probably hand in my lanyard and pin, Agency shop be damned.
Another poster said it very well, ALPA dues are now just another
TAX on my income, because I have no choice in the matter, I have to pay them.
I'd rather ALPA earn my
DUES that I voluntarily send in because they represent my interests, just like I did before the current contract.