I am not trying to undermine anyone's intelligence or motives on this issue. I am simply stating that the overall ability for a pilot group to achieve its goals is irrespective of any type of formal organization (i.e. In-House or National Representation). What it takes is a dedicated group of volunteer pilots to take interest in it and move forward on it. (In a lot of ways this already exists at JB)

The objectives of this group of volunteers must accurately reflect the demographic that it represents. That is a very hard thing to do. Getting 10 pilots in a room to agree on what color to paint it is hard enough. Imagine 2000 or even 10000 pilots in that room. How do you get there from here? Well you need scientific polling and data collecting. You also need to launch a campaign to get everyone singing the same song---solidarity. My point is: all this can be accomplished without ALPA, without Teamsters and without an In-House union. It can't be done without people willing to roll up their sleeves and willing to volunteer.

Even with a group of volunteers managing the true wants and needs the pilots accurately, they still face a daunting task: to get 2000 pilots to march in lock step with one another. Once again, it takes more than a "union" to accomplish this. It takes a very charismatic committee of volunteers to make it happen. A national union does not assign a squad of cheerleaders to perform pep rallies every Friday night. It comes from within - in a grassroots fashion so to speak.

With all that said, the real benefit of having formal representation vs. non-formal is the deep pockets a national association can provide. In fact many independent unions tap ALPAs experts for support on issues such as Legal, Medical, Economic and Financial Analysis and Counsel. As of now JetBlue pilots are wholly dependent on their own and company provided resources on these issues. This is the real benefit JetBlue pilots will realize if a union is voted in and what their dues will be allocated to pay for. Pay rates and work rules will not miraculously manifest in the form of an industry leading contract, that is solely dependent on the local level of volunteers.

I often overhear pilots bashing ALPA/Teamsters for inequities they have suffered in their career. Most of the time it is someone who has never volunteered to contribute time to the very union they are apart of. Pilots often think, "I pay my dues, therefore I reserve the right to enjoy my hard earned time off and The Union is there to take care of the rest." That could not be further from the truth. Pilots need to take the time to educate themselves on how a pilot union really works. Their expectations of it then can be realigned with what they are really paying for. I don't agree with how it works, but I like to think I understand it.