This.

Just browse some of their threads to see the infighting and utterly dumb decisions made by APA leaders.

 

This is universal in Aviation. Everyone touts the few cherry picked gems of someone elses PWA without mentioning the numerous turds that go along with those Cherries.

All unions have some good and bad points as does ALPA. On Chit Chat guys are talking about UPS with their in-house union and strong Scope. Ha! I just was talking with a UPS buddy and The UPS Pilots have just been assigned an Arbitrator for a Scope violation grievance. His says they contractually have pretty good scope but UPS just ignores it when it suits them - he is very frustrated about their situation.

My biggest beef with ALPA is how bloated ALPA National has become - lets lower dues and force them to cut the fat.

Scoop

 

Not to mention that management pilots at UPS are hired directly off the street by the company and are not on the seniority list. A buddy of mine with 10 years there loves pulling gear or getting a check ride on the 747 from a guy hired 3 months earlier. It also provides the company with a built in replacement pilot pool in the event of a job action and makes training scabs far easier.

 

Why not be frustrated with taxes?

Seems the Govt. and some states see you as the problem and have no problem taking more of your money.

ALPA has been making huge gains in all contracts across the Nation getting more Pilots more money while the dues rate has stayed the same. I imagine it will someday be lowered but rebuilding the Major Contingency Fund is preparing us all for an uncertain future.

Dues is also the best investment I’ve ever made. I see that money go to not just help me but to assist all Pilots. That money spent puts a smile on my face for the security of our careers.

Now with it not deductible my problems lie with the ones changing the game and incentivizeing non union ideals.

 

As someone who came from an ALPA regional, it amuses me a bit to hear Delta pilots say ALPA doesn’t do much/enough for them. Delta ALPA owns ALPA National and has for years. If there are issues at the National level, then we likely need to look in the mirror to start addressing the problem(s).

 

Management pilot numbers have been decreasing for years, as pilots hit 65 and go into the training center, retire, or quit and aren’t replaced 1:1. One manager recently quit to be a line pilot at Southwest. The 2016 CBA gave the IPA more contractual training duties and a small but increasing percentage of PV/MV checking. There aren’t enough management CKA on some fleets to accommodate scheduled line checks and LOEs. I don’t think we’ve had a line pilot “cross over” into management since the furlough, and second year FOs have higher pay and better retirement, healthcare, and time off than newhire management “captains”.

But yes, the company has thumbed their nose at our subcontracting clause recently, saying the 6 747-8 and 3 763BCF growth airframes we’ll get in 2018 aren’t enough lift to meet immediate needs due to above-plan volume, but that we can’t get more jets OR train the pilots to fly them any faster. IPA disagrees, so we’ll see how all that all shakes out soon.

Oh, IPA dues are 1.5%.

 

Anyone who thinks our union dues are not a good ROI does not understand ALPA history. ALPA forged this profession into what it is today through hard work and years of pattern bargaining. While union leadership should be accountable for spending, we don't what to become so divided that we end up with no union in 10 years. Also unions are under threat in this country starting with the pending Supreme Court public union case.

What would a dues cut from 1.9 to 1.5 accomplish? Saves about $1200 for a captain per year. Is that gonna change your life? But putting ALPA on the ropes certainly could change your life.

SWA, AMR, and UPS guys I know feel ALPA is superior and they are very frustrated with their in-house unions.

Perceiving ALPA as being a poor value/worthless is marching off into dangerous waters.

 

They’ve been watered down a lot by Airways guys.....

Those guys lost over $1B in pay over all the years they couldn’t agree on a SLI and went without a contract.

 

Like anyone else, ALPA needs to give a return on investment.

 

It's sad some don't recognize or understand the enormous ROI on ALPA dues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hopNAI8Pefg