We need more volunteerism from young pilots within ALPA. We need ALPA doing a much better job educating those in flight school, aviation related universities, etc. why one should work for ALPA airlines.
Finally someone gives me the segue for comment/question I wanted to ask...
While I doubt ALPA has the fiscal resources to start an "early career pilot mentoring program" (maybe it does) it would seem that the spirit of volunteerism coupled with tacit endorsements in their name would go a long way.
For example, on some of their off-days, ALPA-carrier pilots could volunteer to give talks, lectures, etc (and hand out copies of Flying The Line) at some of the more career-oriented places...like FSA, DCA, ATP, Falcon, etc - and be damn prepared to answer the questions that will arise, like, why do I need union representation? Done properly, without histrionics and fear-mongering, this creates a positive bond. I could see guys like Velo, Calcapt, Staplegun, and even Doug - guys who have "made-it" and gained some street cred, having a powerful influence on future pilots.
It would seem that some early information and career conditioning could go a long way. To whit: had I not found JC, I'd have mortgaged my life to SLM for 20 years, gone to ATP, and likely taken the first right-seat offered to me out of instructing, which, at the time, would probably have me on the street about now. Thank Buddha I didn't do that.
The only thing I knew about ALPA back then was my perception that pilots used to strike a lot and inconvenienced the public, and generally seemed to be overpaid whiners. Yes, I'm oversimplifying this, but it's tantamount to what I used to think, because I didn't know any better, and neither does 99% of the pax public. I've learned. So may they.
We talked once before on another thread about how ALPA needed to educate the public as well as the pilots because public support can go a long way toward achieving the agenda. The above early-influence idea is one of several possible examples of how ALPA could overhaul its public image and interest in participation.