ebl14

I'm tired of everyone talking about how ALPA is the biggest pilot union in the US. Thats crap. ALPA is too big for its own good. Too many different locals have conflicting interests. If we get more flying its most likely coming at the expense of our "ALPA brothers" at another carrier. And trying to compare ALPA at legacy carriers to regional ALPA is rediculous. Our ALPA is only as big as our local ALPA, thats it. If we were all really as unified as we SHOULD be ALPA national could negotiate for ALL ALPA MEMBERS no matter what carrier they work for. When that happens you can call it real national union. I'm sick of paying dues to a Association which represents other carriers who may soon be taking my job away, and will take credit for its expansion.

The problem with the system is that people who are in a good position don't have any reason or way to help those who are getting screwed over by thier carriers. If we pilots actually had some balls we would stop letting our different companies work together to make us undercut each other.

Just for example look at the DCI carriers. Out of all the carriers how many are supported by ALPA? How has this helped us out? If you are at freedom or comair is hasn't helped you much, but if you are at mesaba it was great. CONFLICTING INTERESTS. When will we stop this abuse? When will we truely stand united? We need ONE DCI pilot contract (and possible senority list). ONE entity to bargain for a fair and resonable contract. If you fly a 50 seat plane at X years senority you should get Y pay... end of story. It is going to take a lot more than the threat of a strike. When we say strike managements all over the US just look at us and laugh in our faces. Its time to really grow some ball and just say, "We all stand together... negotiate these terms with us to ALL ALPA PILOTS WALK," NOT STRIKE, QUIT, OUTRIGHT.

I know this all sounds a little wild, but if its not going to go that far, why hasn't ALPA national worked harder to repeal or revise the RLA? Why don't they take my 1.95% and try to put it to use on that? And why shouldn't I get to choose how my 1.95% get spent? Our profession is being torn apart before our very eyes. We have the ability to save it but it will take drastic measures to accomplish big goals.

Its true what people say about the regionals degrading the industry. It was allowed by the pilots unions at legacy carriers in the first place, but it will take participation of ALL PILOTS INVOLVED to achieve real improvements. You better believe that DCI is working hard and with all of our managements to make sure we don't come anywhere close to this. Our future is in our own hands... the longer we wait the longer our road to recovery... if there ever is one.