Regional Airline Pilots Association ...RALPA!

"We have nothing to fear,nothing to lose by breaking away from ALPA. Yes Republic, Silver and GoJet are with IBT union but we can start off as an independent association funded apart from ALPA. All it takes is commitment and the desire to say I'm tired of being fed crumbs and fluff. The dream, " hey do not worry,just pay your dues and all the Major airline pilots will be retiring in the next decade"! Is a trick because Most jet regional pilots fly the same routes, work professionally and safely but to the delight of Major Airline Management, this labor force is cheap. We are flying a CRJ 900 from CLT to DFW and then that same cheap labor will refuel and continue to LAX in said aircraft rather that a 737 or Airbus. It is not in the interest of Major Airline Management to have a large payroll of pilots flying domestic routes with their carriers. There will always be outsourced feed which the Regional Airline Pilots Association must see that it's members needs meet.

Many of us will remain Regional Pilots and yet some may be fortunate to leave to greener pastures. Yet it is in our interest to bypass ALPA and achieve political power for ourself. Every journey starts with the first step. Still pay your ALPA dues but Ladies and Gents, it's time to place a dollar a month aside for your own association. RALPA

 

I prefer RALPH

Regional Air Line Pilot Herd, or Horde if you may.

Because we're all a bunch of stupid animals trying to get to mainline.

 

Main problem you have is the more ralpa gains in pay and scope is shooting themselves in the foot for someday moving on. More pay equals less reason to have rj fleet. More rjs equals less reason to grow mainline.

 

Two major issues:

1. Many of the servces that ALPA provides are so expensive that no independant union could afford them, such as legal council, negotiating council, medical services, HIMS, etc. Many large independent unions such as the APA contract these services out from ALPA for a hefty fee.

2. I'm not ure about other regionals, but Endeavor's JBCA-TA has language in the contract that says if Endeavor pilots dump ALPA, then Endeavor loses their flying.

#2 is the most fudged up thing that I've ever heard in my life... a trade "union" included language in their membership's contract that says "if you get rid of us then you lose everything". Doesn't sit right in my tummy.

THose things being said, I am all for a RALPH.

 

Tell me how RALPA will stop pilot groups from undercutting each other for a faster path out of the regionals. Until that problem is solved I don't see any point in changing the acronym of the association my dues go to.

 

This is a great idea on the surface, but upon further examination, it's actually not a very good one. A few of the more obvious reasons have already been stated. Unfortunately, for now, staying in ALPA is the best bad idea that RJ drivers can embrace.

 

Yes but we having been cutting our throats for a long time but very few have made it to the Majors! We need a change

 

Why is it the best idea? Because ALPA says so? I didn't advocate a departure from ALPA but a need for an independent power base. ALPA,IBT are not going to just let us go! But the chains that bind us must be broken, because they are not in our interest

 

Unless we can disarm every potential regional pilot it will not work, unfortunately. Recent history proves that well enough with the knives sticking out of Envoy's back and the stream of pilots fleeing good-paying stagnant airlines for poor-paying growing airlines.

 

We are not a bunch of animals,but professionals who have worked hard, sacrificed and achieved a lot in order to fly and have been treated like the herd. It's not who we are!