Don't feel bad. We had one guy get a bill after he had been retired for seven years, along with a threat to put him in bad standing.

Another one got a bill after he had been gone for three years. This time his widow got it.

Both had been in good standing and both had gotten happy letters when they retired....

They're looking for any money they can get.

They're always looking for any money they can get... they do deserve it they work so hard getting all these wonderful work rules and pay for us.

The downside of a union which is too big or tries to cater to too many different pilot groups.

I tend to disagree Jake. A union can do it's job for a large and diverse membership...if it has true leaders, not people who read soundbites and blow the members money like a bunch of drunken frat boys smoking stogies.

Even with that, they still need synchophants who nod "yup, what he said" and tell the rank and file all is well.

Alpa is a union which is the "legal" mob.

That would make sense if there was actually a merger occurring.

Except they don't actually get anything done.

I haven't belonged to ALPA since March 2008 when Aloha went under. I recently got a bill for $75.00 and I had a good chuckle about it and off it went into the round file.

I have a hypothetical situation.
Assume a person is recalled, then chooses NOT to re-join the pilot's union, what kind of treatment should this person expect from the rest of the group?.

They will probably get sympathy since that person will probably be fired. ALPA typically has a closed shop clause which mandates that either the pilot joins the union and pays dues, or the pilot pays dues, but can decline union representation. Either way, the pilot pays dues. Now, if you're talking about just paying dues and declining representation, well, I pay dues and I don't feel represented. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Sorry, but that's misleading. First, it's up to each MEC to decide whether or not they have a closed shop. I'm Eagle and we voted in a closed shop in 1997. We can vote it out just as easily. An MEC can do whatever it wants unless it conflicts with the ALPA Constitution and Bylaws.

Second, although it may vary and my experience is limited to Eagle's, pilots aren't required to join closed shop unions. They are usually required to pay dues. No pay, no play. As such, even if they are not "members", if they need union representation, they can have it. Basically, not "joining" the union means they don't vote in any elections. It's more of a symbolic (and stupid, IMHO) move than one of any real consequence.