the wording. If they are 'volunteers', and the pay is so substandard as compared to the regular line pilot, why on earth do they stay for years and years?

Think about it. It is a microcosm of what is wrong with so much of our government in general.

Or maybe the coffee there on Va Avenue is really awesome.

I get it, they are compensated. It's not like they are volunteering their time for Habitat for Humanity. I have some heartburn with the phrasing too. But what do you suggest we call them? They aren't employees. They voluntarily take on different responsibilities from their job. And almost all of them perform work in addition to what they are compensated for, some by quite a large margin.

Good for them? I do a lot more as an LCP than just the bare minimum. Doesn't make me a volunteer.

I guess it has always bugged me that they get referred to as volunteers like they are doing some kind of sucky job as if it is some altruistic endeavor. Many of them are paid as if they are flying but they go home EVERY night.

And I think they ARE employees. They (supposedly) work for us. And tbh I think that is part of the problem with the 'union'. We don't hold them accountable like we should. And now that we have a contract, they will go into management mode.

Honestly guy, you’re so full of it. You kill your own credibility because you so clearly post emotionally-driven tripe and don’t even have the facts. When was the last time YOU volunteered to do anything with ALPA?

The non-pilot staff is also unionized. You can’t just go hiring carte blanche whoever you want. Welcome to UNIONIZED labor. ALPA is a pilot-led union.

A lot of people who actually fly go home every night. What point, exactly, are you trying to make?

While they go home every night they do work at least 18 days, regularly taking work home with them. I think ALPA work and SLI work are some of the most labor intensive jobs. Getting paid while watching the Sunset at the Infinity Pool in SDQ, or over the mountains in LAS from your hotel room before going to hit the blackjack tables is why I love the line. But that's just me. YMMV

Lol. Your a clown
​​​​​​Oh, and you should read the history of how alpa treated those unionized employees of ours when they came up in their contract. The hypocrisy was staggering

Still doesn't make them volunteers.

You're the clown. It’s obvious you’ve never done union work and it shows. There might be a few bad cookies working the system but god bless the rest of them.