Originally Posted by
Tuck
Just running the numbers in my head I come up with an average annual union dues of about $2500/crew member (that's probably low) and about 4500 crew members (yes I know some are on probation) - that equals about $10million a year we give to ALPA. Does that seem like an incredible amount for the support we get from ALPA? I just can't see how we (or any union in recent history) has gotten anywhere near their money's worth? Am I missing something?
Perhaps you should be asking that very question of the guys who lost their jobs until the union got it back for them, or guys who were standing tall in that room with a long table, facing serious allegations, only to have their issue resolved by union intervention.
That said, it sure is a lot of money we funnel to National, of course some of it gets spent on other airlines, just like some of my homeowners insurance goes to pay for the rebuilding of an unfortunate home owner's house in Southern California or New Orleans. I guess it's a cost of doing business with a national company. I guess we could "self insure" by removing ALPA and installing an in house union, but we've tried that with even less success. All in all, the dues paid to our union are monies well spent, regardless of how we individually feel about a given issue. At least that's my take on it. Your's of course may vary.