There are some in-house unions. These are unions with membership made up exclusively of pilots working for a particular airline. American Airlines, Southwest and Federal Express are three large companies with pilots represented by in-house unions. The airline division of the Teamsters also represents some airlines.
Historically (and continuing today), ALPA has been the organization which has done the most to ensure flying safety, good pilot working conditions, a degree of governmental oversight of the airlines, and excellent pay and benefits for pilots. The benefits of a strong national union include not only protection of pay scales, work rules and jobs, but the investigation of air accidents and of airline non-compliance with FARs, as well as the funding of labor battles that could not be handled by a single-company union acting alone. Conversely, the Allied Pilots Association (APA), American Airlines' in-house pilot union, has argued that it can focus better on the needs of its own membership without worrying about far-flung agendas that sometimes may conflict with local interests. And the airline division of the Teamsters Union has the advantage of being able to mobilize not only an airline's pilots, but its flight attendants, mechanics and ground service personnel, all of whom it represents at various carriers.
With 80 percent of pilots represented by ALPA, however, the odds are that any given pilot will wind up at an airline with an ALPA chapter. Assuming this to be your case, in your first year with
ALPA, you can apply for apprentice membership and pay no dues. As an apprentice member, you enjoy all of ALPA's benefits; however, you are not eligible to vote until you are off probation and are an active dues-paying member of ALPA. After your first year, you are eligible for active ALPA membership, and you will pay a small percentage of your gross pay in dues each month.
During your probationary year, you will not be asked to join the company union. Once off probation, you will receive an invitation.
When an application for ALPA membership is submitted within 90 days of date of eligibility, the fee is $25. If the application is submitted later, the fee is $50.
The dues rate for active union members is based on 2.35 percent of income for ALPA members and one percent for the Allied Pilots Association (APA, the union at American Airlines). Assessments by the Board of Directors may be issued at any time. Union dues are paid using any of the following procedures:
- Monthly dues through your airline's payroll deduction plan.
- Annual payment in advance, payable directly to the union.
- Monthly dues payable directly to the union.
There are some airlines that will require you to sign a training contract. The contracts normally are $8,000 to $ 12,000, depending on the airline's training program. If you leave the company during your first year of employment, you will owe a prorated amount of your total training cost.
Very few of the pilots who have signed training contracts and left the airline have been taken to court. The airlines will contact you about payment and try to work out a mutual agreement, but will not necessarily take you to court. Most union contracts specifically forbid charging pilots for training. The cost of collecting a training contract probably exceeds the value of the contract to the company, especially if the pilot is out of state.
