Originally Posted by
Carl Spackler
There's good discussions on this going on over on those threads. Neither side denies the United MEC affected the change to ALPA merger policy, and it was a very smart tactical move on their part based on United pilots' demographics and their very real concern about impending mergers.
But again, I agree that it's not the driving point of a DPA. If that was the only concern, there's no way I'd consider leaving ALPA. On the other hand, crowing about ALPA merger policy as a great protection that makes staying with ALPA worthwhile, has little merit as well.
Carl
Actually, everyone that knows anything about it would say that United did not somehow change merger policy by themselves.
In 2007, the ALPA President, a current Continental pilot, convened the Merger Policy Review Committee (MPRC). The MPRC consisted of a representative from Continental, United, Delta, Northwest, a regional pilot, and a Canadian. The Chairman was from Fedex. They made substantive changes to the policy although the United representative had the least amount of input as he was involved in preparation for a potential merger with US Air. It should be noted that the current Continental Merger Committee Chairman was the CAL rep to the MPRC.
The MPRC unanimously recommended the proposed changes, including the CAL Merger Committee Chairman. The Executive Council, which included a CAL EVP, approved the proposed changes. The Executive Board, which included the CAL MEC Chairman, unanimously approved the changes.
Therefore to even hint that the United pilots changed merger policy is completely at odds with the facts. The CAL pilot that was the ALPA President presided over the entire process. I can't wait to see how Carl wriggles out of this one. I am sure he will find a way to blame me.