...ask a former TWA pilot what ALPA did for them and you'd be surprised. It kind of hurts when the Union that's supposed to be supporting you is really trying to pitch itself to the acquiring non-ALPA carrier.

ALPA departments such as Safety, Aeromedical, CIRP, etc, are very worthwhile causes but do not necessarily steer ALPA as an organization. What drives ALPA as an organization is the necessity to recruit as many non-ALPA pilot groups as possible for two important reasons:

1) Increase in revenue due to additional membership.

2) The likelihood of letting an independent union succeed. What message would be sent if a non-ALPA union was able to better represent its membership than what ALPA does? If an ALPA unit was dissatisfied with the representation or (lack of) assistance by National, decertifying ALPA might cross their minds. We've seen it happen already at USAir and Atlas/Polar.

My opinion is that ALPA is at a crossroads when it comes to representing the airline piloting profession. As it's always looking for new membership, how can it represent the current membership in the same ethical capacity? As it's trying to defend the contracts of XYZ Airlines' pilots, how do they not tread all over that very airline's code share partner whom they also happen to represent?

And how should they represent the pilots of an outgoing carrier when absorbed by a non-ALPA carrier? How should they represent the fragmented segment of a carrier being acquired by a non-ALPA carrier?

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