Introduction
The modern business environment can be characterized by the increased complexity of relations between multiple agents. To a greater degree, it is preconditioned by the clash of interests of various companies that try to generate additional revenues and acquire a competitive advantage. However, in many cases, oppositions of this sort can shake the market or industry and result in unpredictable outcomes.
For this reason, there are multiple governmental agencies that regulate the functioning of different spheres by introducing different legal acts or laws. They impact the whole industry and can result in the emergence of unbeneficial conditions for the rise of various firms. That is why the creation of organizations that influence the existing business law and try to attain better terms is a critical part of the modern business world. The paper is devoted to the investigation of two groups of this sort that want to protect companies and people’s interests in the sphere of traffic.
ALPA
The first discussed formation can be considered a lobby group. Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA) is the largest organization in the world that represents interests of about 61,000 pilots from 34 Canadian and U.S. airlines (“What We Do”). The group was founded on 27 July 1931 with the primary aim to promote the introduction of appropriate laws cultivating the legal environment beneficial for companies’ functioning. Thus, its main office is located in Washington, DC which can be considered a strategically correct decision as it provides lawyers and other lobbyists with an opportunity to impact the U.S. government and regulatory agencies directly (“What We Do”).
The group is funded by airlines it represents as ALPA remains one of the most potent tools to reorganize the existing legal environment and attain success by emphasizing the necessity of a particular regulation’s introduction. It is headed by four national officers who are elected by the Board of Directors. These are the President, and three Vice-Presidents. They determine the ALPA’s course and primary activities.
The discussed group is mainly focused on the protection of pilots and airlines’ interests with the pivotal aim to make their functioning more effective and eliminate barriers preventing these actors from delivering high-quality services to customers. For instance, ALPA supported testing for drugs, alcohol, and other abusive substances of pilots who survived accidents with the primary aim to ensure the absence of cases of this sort and show passengers that all companies are concerned of their security (“Advocacy”). Another attempt to reconsider the existing legislation is the focus on companies that undergo bankruptcy as there is a need for a significant help for them (“Advocacy”). In such a way, the given lobby group tries to protect the interests of airlines by resisting the pressure of some existing laws and regulations.
ARTBA
The second lobby group under discussion is the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) that includes about 6500 members from both the private and public sectors of the state (“About”). The primary activity of this organization is to advocate strong investment in transportation and creation of a developed infrastructure that would help the industry to continue its evolution. The group was founded in 1902 in Washington by Horatio Earle (“About”).
At the moment it is headed by Peter Ruane who is the President and CEO of the group; the activity of the company helps to generate about $500,000 million of annual income and provide 4 million of people with working places (“About”). ARTBA is sponsored by all its members as the funds are devoted to the promotion of appropriate laws and regulations that would help the industry to evolve.
Today, the list of the major activities of the lobby group includes the development of effective legislative and regulatory policy regulations, production of economic reports that help to discover the existing drawbacks in legislation, and representation of the industry’s market interests if problematic situations emerge (“About”). For instance, ARTBA and other 11 associations sued the Environmental Protection Agency of the USA on July 2, 2015, because the agency violated existing law requirements when creating the rule aimed at defining “waters of the USA” (“Current Cases”).
The introduction of the given rule would introduce additional burdens and barriers to transportation companies. ARTBA managed to attain success by reconsidering this regulation; however, new qualifications were suggested by EPA, which means that a new trial is needed to solve this problem (“Current Cases”). In such a way, the group tries to protect multiple companies’ interests by arguing the most unwise or discriminative regulations introduced by other actors.
Conclusion
Altogether, the two selected organizations, ALPA and ARTBA can be considered the important lobby groups the functioning of which is focused on the protection of interests of various transportation companies and agents working in the sphere of traffic. Their activity can be considered a guaranty that no serious violations in the existing laws will emerge as the both ALPA and ARTBA monitor the industry and introduce appropriate measures to avoid deterioration of the situation and emergence of new problematic issues. Groups demonstrate the importance of such formations and the critical role they play in the modern business world.
Works Cited
“About.” ARTBA. Web.
“Advocacy.” ALPA. Web.
“Current Cases.” ARTBA. Web.
“What We Do.” ALPA. Web.