Originally Posted by John Pennekamp

DALFA, have you considered that the biggest obstacle is the union you're choosing?

I'm sorry, but AFA is notorious for having "issues". My wife is an AFA member, and I have had a good inside look. I would say that on a national scale AFA is notoriously reckless about pursuing job actions (C.H.A.O.S) with little provocation, for the wrong reasons, and without the support of the other unions. Many times, AFA has pursued illegal CHAOS actions and damaged an airline just because they are angry. They don't seem to exercise due diligence and restraint when they do this. I think they seem to be unnecessarily militant at some times, and unnecessarily weak at other times.

And now they merged with the CWA (communications workers)? What's up with that? It would appear they couldn't stand on their own.

I also agree with the posters who opined that AFA is more interested in collecting dues. My wife was on medical leave for 11 months, and they still sent her a dues bill, despite being out of work, unpaid. ALPA doesn't even do that! The bottom line, AFA doesn't seem to have any solid safety support structure or representational structure in Washington like most unions. Their chief mission seems to be "screw all of you, we're going to get ours, nyah, nyah".

Getting to the point, perhaps you would be better served by trying to organize an in-house union? Or maybe even go with IBT? I suspect that if you DAL FAs continue to court AFA, it will be DOA every time.