I'm sure this has been said, but ALPA PAC reps are out and about in regional crewrooms asking for donations to stop the preclearance facility in the UAE.

Every single airline I am aware of in the UAE that hires US pilots pays significantly more money, treats pilots significantly better than any US airline, does not outsource flying or engage in sham bankruptcies to weasel their way out of contracts, provides better health insurance/childcare/housing/tax/educational benefits than any US airline, and basically raises the bar for all pilots worldwide by providing much-needed demand pressure on the worldwide job market and salary table for all pilots--especially in the USA.

I was a hardcore ALPA supporter when I first got into this racket, but after living through age 65, Pinnacle's sham bankruptcy, PSA's recent contract, etc. etc., and now as we see the union obsessively whining about their mainline masters having to compete head-to-head with Ethiad, I feel like ALPA has simply become a protection racket solely interested in protecting the jobs and compensation of an elite class of widebody captains at US legacy carriers--regional/young pilots are truly just sharecroppers they use as a sweatshop to keep their wages high and coffers full.

Asking starving regional FOs to donate money--above and beyond our dues--to prevent one preclearance facility in the UAE? How about you address the glaringly absurd fact that I fly a plane with a mainline name full of mainline passengers with mainline tickets for poverty wages--how about taking care of that first? How about the fact that we work under the RAILWAY labor act as PILOTS first? How about the fact it is nearly impossible to go on STRIKE anymore? Maybe work on those things with your legislative budget--maybe get pilots under the NLRB instead of the RLA--maybe do that and I'll donate to your PAC fund. But no--no ALPA--I'm not donating to something that will simply kill a potential job for a US pilot at Ethiad solely to protect you half-dead Grandpas and your 777 CA slots at a US legacy carrier--something you have due to luck and timing, and something you have aggressively lobbied to keep for yourself (i.e. age 65) at the expense of young people like myself.

Over it--just absoultely over ALPA and not wearing my lanyard anymore.

 

Let me start by saying, I am not in the regionals but I sympathize with regional pilots. I think this is a great post. How can ALPA ask regional pilots, Captains or First Officers, to help fight against a foreign carrier when ALPA doesn't fight for the regional pilot.

Besides that, how many flights operated by foreign carriers operate from UAE to the USA daily? Don't they have better things to do? Like fight for the regional pilot group?

 

exactly !

 

You realize ALPA PAC is about numbers not money. I am no longer at an ALPA carrier but will continue to donate. A $1 donation puts your name on the PAC list and when speaking to Senators and Congressmen numbers matter. They know numbers=votes. So yes this sabotage issue is VERY important for ALPA, Regional Pilots, Majors, Cargo and all US born pilots. You think there's not some senators that would love Quatar to go do routes like PHL to SFO or JFK to LAX etc? Those are OUR jobs at stake let alone the international routes these airlines would take over and kill.

 

Again another ignorant statement. Look at Australia and see how many routes Quantas has lost. The regulators there caved in and many Quantas pilots are left out. Do you want to move your family to the dessert to fly for a career? Research before you post. You all have a lot to learn on this very important issue. Its terrifying the comments and lack of education on this issue.

 

I'll take dessert!

 

The PAC is one of the few things ALPA National does right. If you eventually want to have one of the wide body Captain jobs you referred to, I'd suggest you donate.

In regards to the pre-clearance facility - not one US carrier serves that airport. Why should our tax dollars go towards making life easier for the passengers of a non-US carrier? I don't have a problem with a facility being built, but it should come at their expense, since they clearly have plenty of cash floating around. The fact that they pay ex-pat pilots well doesn't make me want to open my wallet to help out their passengers.

Emirates is now flying from Milan to JFK. They'd love to do many more segments such as that, and they have the resources (state owned airline) to sustain a fare war with any Legacy carrier.

I know being ignorant is the easy way out of life, but you should care about many political matters (healthcare etc.)if you want to see this country succeed, not to mention have a sustainable career.

Where do you work?

 

HEAR, HEAR!!

+1.

(While on many levels I agree with the OP, sometimes it's important to get past your personal drama to see the big picture.)

 

Again, agreed.

 

It's QANTAS, Quantas. "Research before you post"!

The OP is spot on. ALPA isn't just ignoring the regionals, ALPA is actively fighting against them. ALPA had a direct hand in both the Pinnacle and PSA debacles. Intentional effort by them to set the regional segment back 15 years in compensation. Then they have the audicaty to ask us for donations? Don't think so!