Sometimes this arguing here gets boring... but for my money, I can't continue to support ALPA.
Both groups talk a good talk, but as far as I'm concerned, ALPA made their real representation case every time they DIDN'T properly represent our interests (Atlas crew force). They started,
AFAIK, back during our first contract negotiations and it hasn't gotten any better.
I would consider staying with ALPA if CA Prater came out and
1. Apologized for their past indiscretions re: Atlas.
2. Promised he would personally get involved to insure the Atlas crewforce was properly supported.
3. Put his "money where his mouth is" and take some action to finally stop all the road blocks he's supported in the past and either force the negotiations to really begin, censure those who try to stop them, or any other real action that demostrates he is willing to truly support the combined Atlas/Polar crewforce.
Since that hasn't been forethcoming, as far as I'm concerned, the worst that can happen under IBT is to stop my union's senior leadership from thrawrting our efforts to get a contract. To put it another way, I'm better off with IBT if I only get an occaisional Christmas card from the IBT senior leadership and nothing more. Under ALPA, my Council's leadership, and therefore us, are constantly being thawrted or attacked by my own union!