Originally Posted by APM145

I think you made an error with you decimal point. The fee was $25.00 not $250. That has now changed to $0 if you sign up for ALPA right away as a new hire, you can call you rep and get more info about that if you want.

The merger fund at any ALPA airline is for funding the potential costs of merging with another ALPA airline. The policy of ALPA is that National does not fund ALPA/ALPA merger costs. They will however fund ALPA/Other. The reason for this is to provide an equal playing feild for the two inhouse carriers. So your MEC must feel that the potential for a merger with another airline exsists and want to be prepared. That cost is above the normal funding needed. If you dont like the idea call your rep. If you are Furloughed then call and see if you are still obligated to pay.

One thing to remember is that 2 1/2 years of dues (I am assuming you have over 3 1/2 years of service since the first year is $0 dues) provided you with a contract, legal and medical staff in the event you had a problem, representation on capital hill, and many other services that directly helped you.

I know being furloughed is not a status any pilot ever wants to be in but taking your anger out on ALPA for things out of its control is not going to fix things. ALPA des plenty that you can gripe about, we all see that things can be better in some areas, but many of us also fail to get involved. Call your rep it only takes a few minutes...