the only way to protect the profession is to go to one list somehow..... work out the details and do it... otherwise it's a race to the bottom.

It has been my experience that ALPA has always been "too little too late" in protecting the profession. They have never acted like a union, only a CBA. As a legacy pilot, I continue to see more of the same out of touch top down stuff from ALPA.

At this point in the evolution of the post deregulated airlines, with worldwide networks, I dont think a union (or at least ALPA) really serves any purpose...We cant strike. If we could strike the rest of the network would pick up the slack. The ALPA prez would never do anything to protect his pilots at the expense of his precious butt.

Anybody really see a way forward where we regain pre-911 pay and benefits?

I would love to see a national seniority list but you can keep a national union. IMHO

Trying to make a single list/national union would look like the Usair/Cactus mess on steroids.

You are probably right. There is no fair way to judge the senority. Would it be first day on premises at a 121 carrier or the date of your commercial pilots license or military equivalent. Not to mention various other benchmarks that could be used, the options are endless!

ALPA had an opportunity to get this done when they where the only union, aside from a relatively small APA at American prior to deregulation. ALPA was run by and for ex military pilots who had absolute contempt for the civilian pilot and no concept of what de-regulation was going to do to the industry. They failed to live up to the obligations of helping pilots from Braniff after the failure and Continental during the Lorrenzo /Continental strike and bankruptcy.
Now many view ALPA as the union of failed carriers with failed contracts. The only well compensated group of ALPA pilots are at FedEX and they keep kicking the can down the road waiting for the small independent union at UPS to come up with the next benchmark.
In the past the only time the national seniority list has come up is when the pilots at a failing carrier realize that they chose poorly and they may end up on the street and they want a way to jump the list.

ALPA is about as useful as a broken rubber.

ALPA is a miserable failure and a JOKE of a union. REAL unions work in solidarity with other trades. ALPA can't even work within itself, let alone with other trades/skills.

ALPA is just a good ol' boys club. The sooner you realize that, the less ignorant you will be.