I think I can add a little to this.... but there isn't very much in the way of good news. I am employed by Comair, and exactly one year ago our union decided that we were facing an "imminent" merger with Mesaba. I am not sure how our union reps define "imminent" but here we are a year later... and no merger.

Either way, we were forced to pay $20 a month for a year ($240 total). Then we were told that we might FORCE a merger using the Railway Labor Act. I just asked one of my reps.... and he looked at me cross-eyed. They have no intention of doing anything with the RLA....

At Comair, we have many pilots who have paid this assesment electronically... and ALPA is too inept to figure out who the money is coming from. We have pilots who have never recieved a bill and have never paid. We also have a situation like mine.... I sent a check every three months... and ALPA held one of my checks for 3 weeks before cashing it... triggering expulsion from the union.

I was sent a huge packet of information from ALPA detailing my responsibilities as a paying non-member. (Postage cost $7). Four days later, I was sent an even bigger packet of information congratulating me on my decision to re-join alpa. Obviously these retards finally cashed the check. The total postage cost of the new membership card and new member info was another $7.

Want to know where your union dues are going? Not to change the FAR's to improve pilot rest or increase ATP standards and requirements. Our Dues are going to a unorganized, disfunctional organization that has not improved its structure since 1980. Why do we still get a magazine? Have they heard of the internet?

SWA and AA will never join ALPA.... and ALPA has sold out its own members to try to entice them to join.

What will happen to you if you dont pay? Basically, you will be kicked out of the union. The union will tell you that they can have you fired. This is false. They can ask the company to fire you due to your failure to pay... but every company has alwyas done the same thing. Told the union to grieve it. So in 5 or 6 years an arbitrator will hear this grievance and the union will ask him to terminate you. Fearing a lawsuit, he will likely decline. If he does side with the union, he will certainly give you a 90 day period to pay what you owe to bring you back into good standing.

I personally wish to stay in good standing. But I believe that my local union lied about the urgency and imminence of a merger. This was possibly a strong arm from ALPA national who is desperate for more money to keep an old, archaic, out-dated organization up and running. By contrast, the teachers union only charges $20 per paycheck. So all employees are equal. Do you feel equal to a 777 captain? I think ALPA likes his 2% more than your 2%.

Expect a long frustrating career if ALPA is involved. The best advice would be to persue SWA AA or JB when and if a turnaround ever occurs.