The regional growth was due to mainline managements shifting flying to the regionals, while keeping the compensation bar low. And ALPA did nothing to try to raise it. Meanwhile Babbitt, wuerth, prater etc were not advocating for higher wages.
I agree with all mainline pilots that all flying should be done at mainline. The issue here is ALPA did nothing to solve either problem; the shift of jobs, and pay for all pilots, but rather propagated the situation with its lack of leadership.
Now they're trying give the appearance of advocacy, when in reality it's too late for them too save face, but rather rewrite history.
Hopefully the regional industry does fade and all flying moves to mainline and us with it. But ALPA has been no advocate for qol for its members.