The recent developments with firings and destruction of reasonable health-care options demonstrate the total lack of fair protocol due to the impotence of our pilot group. Everything that happens to us is an an ad hoc event made with little consideration to the lives of actual humans with actual needs. When times are rough we see the true nature of an organization.
The reality of being workers with highly specialized skill-sets, is that we will be dangling above oblivion for the entire duration of our careers. This is an enormously precarious professions and without some form of group-based legal representation, we are disposable components. This is increasingly how we are viewed by our upper and middle leadership in spite of the mythology that we are fed. We will see increasing abuse, injustice and degradation of QOL until we get organized and protect each other.
As a former ALPA member, I was frustrated often by how our individual MEC handled certain situations. However, seeing events unfold here, I wish I had never left the security that ALPA provided. If nothing more ALPA is protection for your CAREER and LIVELIHOOD. The meager dues would provide essential legal protection that we all need as pilots.
