Hey...I got one of the section 29 letters, as have a huge number of West pilots. Those who haven't will. It sucks. It does. But let's be realistic, pretty much EVERY union has he same ability. ALPA did, but they weren't noted for actually perusing terminations. The day USAPA got voted in by the East pilots (*who are the majority of the new USAir family, and hey..it's a democracy, right?) I knew I was going to have to start writing them checks. I may not like it, but it's the reality we live in. The reason I didn't pay my dues until I got the termination threat is because USAPA had demonstrated their primary purpose was serving the needs of EAST pilots, not USAir pilots. Enormous sums of money wasted on frivolous legal proceedings against West pilots, their willingness to fight the DFR lawsuit all the way to the Supreme Court, etc. When does it end?
In recent months, I think USAPA has made some strides to equally represent West pilots. They have been small gestures, but it's a start. They sought the help of the former AWA MEC Vice-Chair in an arbitration against the company that ONLY benefits West pilots. HOWEVER, USAPA is still pursuing legal action against that same guy for racketeering. WTF is up with THAT? At some point the entire group, EAST and WEST needs to start to use the union as a tool to represent all pilots as we wrestle with the desires of the company. Until they do, it's stll East vs. West...and USAPA primarily represents the East, and the West doesn't like sending them money to support their efforts that are used against them.
