So what do you view as the ATI guys' options at this point?

Assuming alfa's post regarding their PWA's lack of merger protections is accurate, they wouldn't appear to have a lot of leverage.

I know nothing about Airtrans scope and fragmentation clause. I also don't know what may or may not be going on behind the scenes with SW management and what pressure they may be applying. The AirTran MEC and pilots will have to look at their options. Strong legal counsel will also be needed. It appears to me however that this is a attempt by SW management to end run the new law on SLI's passed by the government.
Each Airtran pilot will have to decide if it is put to a vote what the risks and rewards will be and make a choice.

This is much like the Delta contract. There are many who advocate a contract position with nothing less then total restoration plus inflation. Sounds great on paper but again what are the risks and what are the rewards. If you end up iced by the NMB and 5 years later we are still working under this agreement was that a wise choice?
Would it be better to try and quickly achieve a reasonable 3 or 4 year contract with good gains and be working on the next contract in 4 or 5 years or still working under this one seeking full restoration? Each pilot will have to decide when the contract surveys come out what they feel will provide the highest quality of life and be the best for their families. I know what I feel is the best course however I will support 100 percent the majority. Many however will not if things don't go there way. They will be on the various forums continuing to sling mud and name call without ever providing any positive contributions.

So a weak independent union leaves their pilots exposed. ALPA inherits the mess and puts every effort to try to mitigate the damage that a weak independent union created. SWA management and SWAPA collude to attack the Airtran pilots. And its ALPA's fault. Got it. Do you even read what you write?

So tell me, Mr. Scambo, exactly what would YOU do? Give us the plan. You seem real quick with the criticism, so what would advise ALPA to do?

I see pretty much the same thing.. especially the blue highlight..

Just to confirm, regardless of the fact AirTran is relatively new to ALPA, ALPA will be giving them 100% support, right?

I mean Herndon is not going to pick winners and losers, it will stand on principle and not headcounts, right? I say headcounts as in just because AirTran will be SWAPA they will still get max effort?

Because this is albatross was hung around ALPAs neck and here's a chance redeem oneself:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DRZ5OCdrR7...A+decision.jpg

I don't think he can come up with a plan any more than you or I can. I think his point is that ALPA is pretty helpless here and can do little other than to observe and advise. That causes a lot of frustration in GenPop. Many expect ALPA to effect change, and more importantly to PROTECT it's membership and when all we really see is "observing and advising" it is hard to quantify and justify why we are a member of said organization. When the collusion that even you note renders that same organization impotent, I think he is well within his rights to question our involvement in the organization. Standing by, observing and hand wringing by the association is not an acceptable answer alfa, though I have no idea what the answer is..

I think alfa's point was, unlike DALPA, where this can't happen because we've been an ALPA member long enough that those same ALPA lawyers you like to complain about have written sufficiently strong scope language to prevent this, that is not the case at AirTran. And there's perhaps not much they can do if their current contract isn't being abrogated by this SLI methodology.

Kinda like blaming the reliever brought into the game in the 9th inning for the loss, when the score was already 7-0 going into the 9th.

So if this goes down the way it is looking like, what would be the incentive for anybody else to join ALPA? If you have to be a plankholder to garner the protections that the genius lawyers can get for you, why pony up the dues and put up with the bull**** when you can write a check and use ALPA as a consultation (like APA is currently doing)? If I am... say UPS.. (not that they would join, but for example...) and I see ATI get burned while ALPA fiddles, why would I join? The reverse of this is true. If a smaller carrier within ALPA watches ATI get burned.. why should they hang around when they might be able to find better representation elsewhere? This is thin ice for Herndon IMHO, and they'd best not blow it.

Are you referring to Comair or ASA?