So how does this national union work? One seniority number for life? One contract? What happens if a company goes under? Or am I way off on where you think this should be?
What not an association of unions? Kind of like states in a republic.
I think it best that the local still negotiate its own contract/working conditions. The local has to be the building block of the National union. It will keep the national "in touch" with the membership. It will do all the day-to-day administrative chores.
National will primarily set policy and minimum wages/working conditions. No local contract will be "approved" unless it falls in line with national guidelines. No group will be permitted to undercut another...even if the local's company cries that the national guidlines will bankrupt it and put everyone out of work.
National's other "big job" is to be an advocate for labor generally and pilots specifically in Washington.
The national seniority list is a tough (very tough!) issue. I've played with a couple of ideas. The most workable solution is starting at a certain date, national would issue a seniority number to each recipient of a commercial pilot's licence. At that point the commercial pilot will be required to pay an escalating "maintenance fee" to stay on the seniority list. As long as he pays his fees, even if he goes and teaches school for twenty years, he maintains his number. Any one who does not pay his fee, may be re-instated, but at the bottom of the list.
Won't affect anyone working today, but going forward (and, my! how time flies.), we will have every pilot on the list. Anyone who scabs, or works for sub-wages, will lose his number.
Just one idea...the devil is in the details. The ALPA has grappled with the idea for 50 years and hasn't come up with a solution...I must be crazy for running an idea up the flagpole!
First effort: Get unified in goals and set objectives. Watch big business scream!
