Ah I knew that was coming "You're not a pilot, so what do you know" . I've worked in line service for over 8 years, and was in a both union and non-union environment, and I have a business degree, so I know what I am talking about.
The safety issues pilot unions fight for are great, no doubt about it. But with all unions, the motives of the people in charge have to be considered. Despite what they may tell you, a union is a business, and it is there to make people money, not to fight for the little guy. For example, the same union represents both Delta mainline pilots, and Comair pilots. ALPA was helping main line pilots put scope clauses into effect, to restrict the growth of Comair. Why was ALPA doing this? Because the Delta mainline pilots put a lot more money into their pockets, and they didn't want to see that money go away.
Those of you that just blindly get on the union gravy train without looking at what they have done to run airlines into the ground are going to have a very big wake up call. Perhaps you have already, with jetBlue and SWA kicking butt and taking names, the tremendous rise of RJ's, and airlines fighting unions with spin-offs like Song and Starfish. The day of the airline pilot making huge amounts of money is going away.
I'm sure everyone is going to jump down my back, and that’s fine, you don't want to see your high paying union jobs go away. But, I am not going to expect to make $200k a year when I finally make it. But you know what? I'll be able to raise a family and live in a nice house on $75k a year.
(Please don't send Vinny and Tony to break my legs, I need to work.....hard)
