Originally Posted by
rickair7777
I definitely have an issue with unions at the regional level, really alpa.
In general regional unions are a net positive. At some regionals, lack of a union would be a catastrophe.
In the case of alpa, they have a conflict of interest... mainline pilots are their real constituency, and rocking the gravy train is not really in their best interest. So no one (National, or the various MEC leaders) is going to get behind an association-wide movement to either pay regional pilots more, or bring them in house. Reality... I get paid more because regional pilots work for less. The regional system (whipsaw) ensures that. I don't want to change that at this point (already paid my dues, need to see the payoff now).
For alpa at a regional assume you will get some protection from the company, and assume your dues will contribute to the general benefit of the profession as a whole. Do not assume that there will be any wholesale organized attempt to save you from your circumstances, you have to do that for yourself, here's a link to get started:
Airline Applications
So you're correct on that point. I just don't think throwing out the baby with the bath water is a good idea. Although Skywest didn't need a union when I started there.
You speak like ALPA was a proponent of scope-give and the regional model as a whole. It was the members who voted for their own wallets at the detriment of the next generation. ALPA is only as good as it's voting members. The conflict of interest argument is silly. ALPA gives it's regionals the same resources as it's majors. They can't help if the MECs aren't capable of leading/managements are adversarial. If you have a good company with solid management, a union can only help. It can't work magic.