ALPA has slowed the deterioration of the profession. In every instance listed within this thread a pilot initiated and followed through with the action - on behalf of the profession.
National representation is yesterday and very Twentieth Century. Unless the revolution from the rank and file professional pilot begins the evolution of re-organizing labor, not just at the National level ... but accross the Atlantic as well, the outlook is not too good. Cabatage and foreign ownership will soon fall as a result of globalization. At that point in time we will see Deregulation (a la 1978) Part 2. And, a National pilot union will become it's own worst enemy - too slow and too politically driven. More so than today and those Nationally represented pilot groups will be much worse off than the more fluid property specific independant associations (aka unions).
Go global and industry segment specific, or don't waste the time and effort. National representation is very Twentieth Century - welcome to the Twenty-First Century. It's a hell of a hill to climb, and unless the profession is prepared to take drastic measures (like a not-so-legal national system shutdown), it will be more of the same - slowing the deterioration of the profession.
IMHO,
