Yeah i hate to say it, but having a castrated union can be worse than having no union at all. Any union bargaining under the RLA is completely ineffective.
Having a company seniority system means that your ability to market your skill set dies the day your company dies. You can be the best captain on earth, but in the eyes of your next employer, your a first year F.O just like the 250 wonder kid sitting next to you in ground school.
This isn't 1930 anymore. The airlines aren't just a nice to have industry, they are an essential part of the economic infrastructure of the country.
Having ALPA bargain for contracts under the RLA is an insanely ineffective, and outdated practice.
I think pilots have been beaten down so thoroughly that they forget they are providing an essential service, that this country cannot do without.
You should be able to market yourselves to a better company without losing the ability to feed your family. First year wages and bargaining under the RLA will never allow that. That's not alpa's fault, but it has crippled alpa.
Yes alpa can save your job, but with MEC approved contracts that allow mandatory overtime, 15+ hour work days, and sub $20k salaries, all on less than 6 hours of sleep per night, what regional jobs are really worth saving?
Last edited by FNFAL; 06-01-2009 at 10:59 AM.