Originally Posted by
rickair7777
Painful because alpa at the regional level sucks, period. I don't think they would do anything for SKW, except maybe create an antagonistic relationship with the company. As far as taking care of our pilot group goes, I would vastly prefer an independent union...seems to work for AA, SWA, etc.
ALPA is only as good as your local MEC. Doesn't matter if it's at the "regional" or legacy level, or anywhere in between. I've worked at two ALPA carriers. The first, the MEC was strong and put with very little, if any, crap from management.
They ALSO negotiated the highest ever 50 seat rates to date, and many that claim to have "industry leading rates" STILL don't match those. YOUR 50 seat rate it $1 an hour higher. Problem is, it's 2009, this was done back in 2001. Do a COL/inflation adjustment and see what it would be.
The second, well, I have reservations about how strong they really are.
But I wouldn't let the fact that you didn't do your homework, as well as made a crappy choice by going to MESA completely skew your view of ALPA.