This is not about being someone's friend, this is about trying to forge a unified front for the attacks on the profession.

Have mistakes been made? Yes, plenty, but the problems can and should be solved within the confines of the organization.

Restructure ALPA is you must, but keep the organization. Loosely tied independent unions are recipe for disaster. Even CAPA represents some small regionals. How do you think that will progress going forward? Whether or not CAPA wants to admit it, representing more pilots from a as many airlines as possible is the best way to do business, and that is seen even through their actions.

Maybe. But I wouldn't shoot myself in the foot over it.

Deadehad;
Have you read the comments from the republic guys. They are more than willing to do it for less than not just you, but any other regional just to get the flying. Guys outside of your scope of control cannot be held in check. Never. Within ALPA you see no group willingly undercutting each other. Corporations may try but the pilots are not. Look no further than Mesaba to see regional guys fighting back when their flying is being used as a threat to lower their contractual value.
RJET on the other hand (not F9 or YX guys) are willing to under cut their own (YX and F9) as well as majors and regionals all for shiny jets.

That is my point, but going independent you would be doing just that. Why would ASA, XJ et al work with DPA when DPA is the result of leaving the good fight and willing stating that they want the flying back all the while not engaging these pilots. Pilots who are in their jobs because of a cutout that the majors created?

Many would say to heck with it, and would do anything in their power to undermine your power base. Conjecture? Maybe but the fact is that they would not see any reason; financial or otherwise, to not do it. If anything ALPA is doing everything it can to keep these guys in check until we can recapture this flying.

This is not reality, it's you dreaming. This is not how it is working and let's not forget about the many folks at the regionals who don't want scope tightened, they want it loosened. Also, the regionals are not under our broader control. They have been with ALPA the whole time things have gotten worse. It seems like you are looking through rose colored glasses and not at truth.

Well said, and I agree 100%. On the other note I am also aware that a new union must be chosen when the timing is right, e.g. right after the next contract negotiations.

That is a part of the issue as well. Look at the timeline. They want to dump ALPA prior to section six? How smart is that?

Actually agree with you, personally I'm still in between going from ALPA to DALPA. Not sure how well this will work as we approach one of the biggest contracts of the past ten years for us.

There is alot about ALPA that irks me, but not sure this is the best time to start changing representation.

Fear is why we are in the position we are in today. Too many important decisions have been made based on it. Ask yourself, is our current union fundamentally flawed and beyond repair? Are they representing you? If the answers to those questions are Yes and NO then it is better to fix the problem now. There is plenty of time to prepare for section 6. Please don't base your vote for independent on this hurry timeline ALPA is trying to create. They did the same thing with the joint contract. How did that work out for us? BK wages, weak scope, weak retirement. Don't fall into the same trap. Whined the clock. When you hurry up, you usually **ck UP.

DAWGS,

Thanks for saving me some typing. Well said!

If ALPA does not have an appropriate objective for Section 6 (i.e. restoration), then it is absolutely imperative that we dumped them ASAP.