[QUOTE=FXDX;253169]
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.
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.QUOTE]
I am sure our guys tried to have everyone covered under agency shop. I'm no lawyer, but I'm sure it would have created more law suits than it was worth.
And don't you think if the word was put out in advance about this that many folks would have quit the UNION so they wouldn't be grandfatherd?
AND BTW, yes this is a FREE country and you have Freedom of Speech.....................Just try to exercise your Freedopm of Speech on Company Property or a Company computer. You'lll be fired so quick it will make your head spin. I remember an FO who was at a union meeting in 1998 who exercised his Freedom of Speech voiced his Opinions of the Company and MGT. He got fired the next day.
A SCAB has nothing to do with Agency SHOP. A SCAB is a SCAB in my opinion.
The bottom line is that the UNION's purpose to Protect and enhance the careers of it's members. The UNION has done a pretty damed good job for the most part if you look at the Big Picture. The UNION isn't perfect nor is it some magic entity. National has made mistakes as well as Local. It's leaders are just folks like you and me. Fighting Big Corporations and Anti Labor Administrations isn't easy. It also takes a substantial amount of money.
If you think of paying UNION dues as nothing more than a TAX, than maybe you should turn in your Pin and Lanyard. In the BIG scheme of things, Unions especially ALPA is the reason why you wanted to be a Professional Airline Pilot.
You wanted to do something you loved and you wanted to make a decent living and wanted time off to enjoy that living. You have that my friend and all because of the UNION.