Originally Posted by
Nevets
Personal question Mr Williams, if you don't mind. What do you have against ALPA?
First, let me say that SkyWest pilots could have an inhouse union. I also doubt it would happen any time soon.
First and foremost, I recognize that anything I say will be countered with how wrong I am, and how ALPA is the shee-at.
I don't think ALPA carriers have been very successful on the big picture issues for quite some time. Pay, work rules, scope, retirements, the whole package.
Also, representing Carrier A which is fighting to limit scope, while also representing Carrier B, which is trying to get more of Carrier A's business is grossly bad business, IMHO.
Those are the two chief macro issues.
You are not wrong, just misinformed.
. And ALPA certainly isn't the shee-at.
Again, the letters ALPA in front of the name of your union will not make a difference in the outcome. The names of the people in that union are still the same and would make the same decisions regardless of if they were called the banana union or ALPA. There have been many independent unions that have not been successful in pay, work rules, scope, retirements, etc. I wouldn't even put it all on the members of those unions but more on the circumstances of the particular carrier they work for. Look at the Fedex Pilots Association for example.
Your second point is one of the biggest misconceptions of ALPA. The major airline management and mainline ALPA MEC decide, through negotiations, what they will and will not fly - scope. The regional airline MEC has absolutely no say whatsoever! Yeah, certain regional airline management may be salivating at the opportunity to operate 90 seat jets, I'll concede that point. Once scope has been hashed out by the mainline management and their MEC, then the regional MEC will negotiate for the best terms possible to operate those aircraft assuming their management secures that flying.
Carrier B's MEC is NOT trying to get get more of Carrier A's business. They have no say in it even if your premise was true anyways. You are confusing management and the union.