rickair7777

I agree that alpa can provide more funding for a regional, but what they are lacking is leadership, a plan, and a proactive approach to the regional problem.

I'd be inclined to try an in-house union, even with higher duers, and see how that works. If it's not sustainable then go with alpa.

Just because you are an independent union does not mean that you cannot cooperate with other unions at the national level. APA, SWAPA, and others already do that.

Nevets

But the leadership pool is the same regardless. The same pilots in an in house union would provide the leadership if you had ALPA.

And sure, there is a coalition of independent pilot unions that APA, SWAPA, USAPA, etc are part of. But how often have you heard of them doing anything or being asked to testify before congress or participate in ARCs, or be a member of ICAO, etc? Not to mention all the other services, such as aeromedical, that you get for your dues money that is not going to national.

rickair7777

I'm not talking about local leadership, I'm talking about national leadership...to establish some common goals and standards for regional contracts. They need to play hardball...ie refuse to sign subpar contracts (mesa, etc). There is little talk and even less action regarding regional issues.

I know the coalition is active in Wahington.

You can buy aeromedical insurance on the internet...from the same providers alpa uses

TonyWilliams

Nevets,

Your comments come across as "ALPA is the only real game in town". I'm sure that's what ALPA would say, too.

There is nothing that ALPA that is not available to other airline unions.

Nevets

ALPA national has created policy to strengthen regionals. The entity created by the BOD tasked with that is called the Fee For Departure Task Force. They have already come to an agreement on goals and contract standards for regional contracts.

As for playing hardball, this is completely in local leaderships control. ALPA national has no say or authority in what the local MEC negotiates for. The local MEC directs the negotiating committee what to bargain for and what not to bargain for. The local MEC decides to accept the agreement the negotiating committee has come to or to send them back to the table.

You are right that its going to take playing hard ball. Especially to implement the goals and contract standards the FFD Task Force has agreed to. I beleive that it will take a strike to attain certain of those goals. My only point is that that will come from the local leadership and the local leadership pool is the same regardless.

The coalition is active? I wouldn't have known with the lack of input that congress seems to seek from them evidenced by the lack of congressional testimony they are asked to provide as subject matter experts.

As for aeromedical insurance, that is exactly my point. Not only does larger ALPA MECs subsidize the regional and smaller MECs, but you get other services such as aeromedical without having to pay for it out of pocket on the internet!

Nevets

Obviously ALPA is not the only real game in town. I'm just saying that I feel that ALPA is the best game in town. I am ALPA and I am saying that. There is nothing that other airline unions have that ALPA doesn't do better. But seriously, ALPA has, and continues to advocate and make our profession safer, and has done it better and with more results than any other entity.

BLitz

So a friend at Skywest just got furloughed. Any info?

BHopper88

no one at skywest has gotten furloughed, maybe your friend got fired...(just moved up a spot in the last few days) We are having 2 classes of 8 in feb/mar and more "possible" during the year.

AtlCSIP

They are advertising for First Officers on the website. How could he have gotten furloghed? Are you sure he wasn't fired?

BLitz

Huh. That is strange. He has been there 2 years as of March on the RJ in MKE.