Originally Posted by Andy

b52dthdlr, I did not report you to any moderators. I would have advised anyone against such an action in spite of your comment being so far out of line that it diminishes the very meaning of scab, strikebreaker, or whatever word you wish to use to describe people like me who are tired of the schizophrenic melodrama that is UALALPA.

I would not report you to moderators because I have behaved poorly on this and other forums more often than I care to remember. After I responded to your post, I stepped away from the keyboard and took a few hours off before properly responding to your post.



I have quoted this portion of your post because it shows how little you understand about LOA 25. The company complied with LOA 25 to the letter. Read paragraph 4. That was a carveout specifically effecting the 2172.

That carveout was not dreamt up by United management; it was done by ALPA pilots and agreed to/signed by both LUAL and LCAL ALPA MECs. Blaming this on United management is so far off the mark that I laughed when I read your post.

No doubt that LOA25 was a Jay Pierce request and JS went along. Neither thought it would pass the pilots. It did by 72%+ margin, which included a number of LCAL pilots.

There are a lot of the 2172 still livid about the carveout. I'm not one of them anymore; there are more important things in life than to be upset about LOA 25. I used to be livid about LOA 25 but that emotion has long since left my body with respect to LOA 25.

The speculation is that this was a demand by Jay Pierce; another stall tactic. Whoever's idea it was, I give them kudos for a great strategy to drag out the JCBA and better position LCAL for the ISL. Many can curse Jay Pierce and his merger strategy, but he did exactly what he was supposed to do - represent the LCAL pilots and get them the best possible deal in the merger. We could use a lot more deep thinkers like Pierce in the MEC. There is no efidence that LOA25 improved the seniority integration of LCAL pilots. It did however stop the stealing of Captain seats by LCAL side at the hands of JP and JS.

I do find the entire LOA 25 kind of humorous. Back on my first furlough when ALPA was settling with the company on the no furlough clause, a bunch of us furloughees begged our representatives to get longevity credit for our time on furlough as part of the settlement. The response was that 1) it would cost way too much; ~$20 mil/yr (I don't remember the exact number) to give furloughees longevity credit and 2) the company might not want to recall furloughees if they had to pay them higher wages. In the end, the company and union settled the matter out of court where it benefitted the pilots who were still on property - furloughees saw nothing in the settlement.

The bond distribution was another low point of UALALPA. Both Northwest and Delta's furloughees got full shares of their bond distributions. I asked that a portion of the bond distribution be held back until all furloughees were offered recalls. No dice. I was told that since I was furloughed, there was no obligation to represent me. And big FU from UALALPA. It really sucked because there were periods during my first furlough where I lived in a storage unit or the backseat of my car in order to cut costs. Before you go blasting away at ALPA and the membership you'll have to remember that the company, you seem to have fallen in love with, actually furloughed you. As I recall the pilots provided medical insurance assistance to all furloughed that wanted or needed it. All United pilots were going through some difficult times and at different levels - the only victims were ones that made themselves victims.


I've gotten beyond all of that now, but I've witnessed so many acts of incredible stupidity by UALALPA over the years that there isn't much that surprises me anymore. Too many angry shortsighted pilots who are willing to cut off their noses to spite their face. Sometimes it's felt like watching a small army of Don Quixotes come to life. Hats on hats off. Good example of why it's important to be involved in the process, you know, go to meeting, understand the real issues, know who your elected reps are and what they are doing to represent you. The man you speak of should have worn a CLOWN SUIT 24 hours a day.

b52dthdlr, when I posted the angry pilots comment, it was a generic statement and not meant to be aimed at any individual on this board. I had no idea that it would elicit that kind of response from you. Calm down. There are far more important things in life than this. I guess it's time I took another very long break from here, as the tension on this subforum is surreal.

All the best to everyone. The next time you (generic) get home, take the time to spend some quality time with the family and tell them that you love them. Life's too short.

Frats,
Andy