That is what they've stated, in writing.

Like you, I find it hard to believe.

Lee Moak had a bit of a reputation for acting unilaterally as Delta's MEC Chair, but he was always within his power to do so. ALPA National Constution, Bylaws and Administrative Manual are much more developed and restricting than those documents which are internal to Delta MEC governance.

Lee Moak had stated support for outsourcing and support for flow through agreements.

In this case it appears an end run around the autonomy of the Delta MEC was engineered by trying to make this an arm's length transaction and perhaps using conditional language. In ALPA's history, such efforts have always drawn a quick rebuke from ALPA's President. The fact Lee Moak has been silent to this point means he must have authorized these negotiations. Still there are numerous ... and I mean quite a few ... procedural violations which will have to be explained.

Lee Moak must be banking on the fact his friends at Delta will not question his actions. Politically, no ALPA President has ever gone so far.

If they get away with it, the action harms ALPA. There was fringe move to displace ALPA as the bargaining agent on the Delta property. IMHO the best argument for ALPA was the exclusivity and autonomy the Delta MEC has with Delta management. Now, it appears that might not be a valid defense.