Regardless of what jet you fly, who you fly for, who you want to see as the face of ALPA there are some main points that are not being made. As a disclaimer I am pro-ALPA but anyone at 9E can tell ya that some ripples are being made within our own group over leadership (or lack thereof).

1. ALPA is it's membership and is largely a volunteer driven group. Yes, your 1.95% dues go to keep the MEC running, national running, and supply the Major Contingency Fund- but you get many many benefits.
-Anybody used ALPA aeromedical? I have- without it I would have lost my medical for 6 months.
-Anybody used the legal dept?
-Anybody used the Schwab Financial planning benefits for retirement and investments?
-Anybody been protected during the "carpet dance"

2. The group is only as good as the local group and MEC. Not only do you need to elect the true leaders of the group who have "titanium balls" to take on mgmt, but you need to be sure that the MEC/LEC is given the volunteer based committees to get a job done.
-Do you have an active Retirement and Insurance committee working to make sure you have all your paid for benefits, the best rates, best care, best coverage, best 401K provider and plan details while trimming out BS fees?
-Do you have a hotel committee actively working with the company to find the best hotel (many times even working to get a different hotel that costs more)?
-Does your scheduling committee work to get horrible pairings changed, improve QOL, and keep the company from doing whatever they want to pilots and their schedules?
-Does your negotiating committee have the same goals as YOU and your elected reps?
-Do you let your reps know what is going on, what needs to get fixed, what yourself and others are looking to improve?
-Does your Pilot-2-Pilot group keep you up to date with all the info going on at your company (and even the truth going on at others)?
-Does your safety and training committees work to improve training programs, and work with ASAP, LOSA, FOQA to keep you safe and improve your skills?
-Does your professional standards committee get feedback on the "renegades" and work to fix the problems?
-Does your communication committee keep you in the loop with official messages?
-Does your ALPA PAC committee pass on the political needs expressed by your group and not just a name and check?
-Does your jumpseat committee keep your commute alive?
-Does the grievance committee get your "fly now grieve later" events compensated and stopped against for the future?
-Does your security committee work to keep procedures up to date with the latest threats?
-Does your membership committee make sure everyone stays in good standing and eligible to vote when the time comes?



YOU are ALPA, the union is YOURS. I will publicly say (call this public) that I do not believe Prater has the regionals in his mind as a focus. His support is the majors from what I am seeing and reading. His desire for regionals to just sign a contract and get their hands out of the MCF for 5 years is undeniable. ALPA is what you make it, if you don't like something- work to change it. Your fellow pilots will either explain to you WHY it's done a certain way or step up out of the shadows in support for new change.

If you are complaining and haven't tried to volunteer- pick your area of anger and get to work. Volunteers are always welcome and some fresh blood can really get things accomplished.