Good old alpa
 

I just received a bill from my local alpa representatives for $42.48 for a merger fund that according to them all of my dues for the past 2 1/2 years and the $250.00 for the "activation fee" for my account didn't cover. OH YEAH..... this comes almost two months after I've been furloughed!! Thanks for lookin out for your fellow pilots. I'm wondering if they can take food stamps as payment. Just thought that this was too good not to share with everyone.

What happens if you refuse to pay it?

He would have to make it good when he is recalled in order to be a member in good standing. There is no reason to pay it now.

Comair? Those boys sure wasted a bunch of pilots money. Sad thing is you'll never get that assessment back. Hope things turn around for ya.

As much as I've been dissapointed with ALPA over the last few years, I can't imagine this being anything other than a mistake. I'm sure they would be pretty upset to hear you got sent a bill.

Now, if they know you are furloughed, well...

Who exactly is it they think they need a merger fund to merge with? I think they're living in a fantasy land.

Call your union rep. If you need help getting the number, whatever airline you work for, shoot me a PM.

Doesn't sound like Comair as he said he was furloughed 2 months ago...we haven't furloughed anyone since November, and those people have been recalled.

I think you made an error with you decimal point. The fee was $25.00 not $250. That has now changed to $0 if you sign up for ALPA right away as a new hire, you can call you rep and get more info about that if you want.

The merger fund at any ALPA airline is for funding the potential costs of merging with another ALPA airline. The policy of ALPA is that National does not fund ALPA/ALPA merger costs. They will however fund ALPA/Other. The reason for this is to provide an equal playing feild for the two inhouse carriers. So your MEC must feel that the potential for a merger with another airline exsists and want to be prepared. That cost is above the normal funding needed. If you dont like the idea call your rep. If you are Furloughed then call and see if you are still obligated to pay.

One thing to remember is that 2 1/2 years of dues (I am assuming you have over 3 1/2 years of service since the first year is $0 dues) provided you with a contract, legal and medical staff in the event you had a problem, representation on capital hill, and many other services that directly helped you.

I know being furloughed is not a status any pilot ever wants to be in but taking your anger out on ALPA for things out of its control is not going to fix things. ALPA des plenty that you can gripe about, we all see that things can be better in some areas, but many of us also fail to get involved. Call your rep it only takes a few minutes...

Dues money can't legally be used to pay for any kind of merger negotiations. That is why there is a merger assessment in the first place.

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.

Pathetic talking points. A fine job you ALPA guys have done. You would mess up a free lunch, but keep patting yourselves on the back.