Originally Posted by Romulus

ALPA isn't perfect, but it is the best thing available unless you have a benevolent management system where an independent union or no union at all can work. Let's hope you don't have to go on strike or, God forbid, have an accident. Doesn't the IPA rent services from ALPA? If ALPA didn't exist, you'd have to generate those resources yourself.

The biggest allie those Brazilian midair pilots, both furloughed APA pilots, have is ALPA because all APA is doing is giving an occasional cheer with pom-poms then going back to business as usual with their second year of contract negotiations.

The biggest problem with large unions is the members who think it exists to only serve them. This is like someone who joins a basketball team on the condition the team makes them the star and always gives them the ball. That isn't how it works. It's a team. All members have to do what is best for the team. Support the team and the team supports you. You may not ever be the star, but a good team is a winning team. A good team is a team where you watch everyone's back and they watch yours.

It's hard to form a team when all the members are undercutting each other to be the star and catch all the limelight.

Off the soapbox. Good luck.