Originally Posted by
Qotsaautopilot
I confirmed that CAL did in fact assess its Alpa members to fund a merger fund. My contact does say he was foggy (6 years ago)on the amount but that it was variable based on your personal income or maybe position. He also said he vaguely remember it was paid in 4 separate deductions not all at once and they also got money back after the merger because all the money wasn't used.
I just love the amount of education coming from the MEC about this topic. One line in an email about them voting on a resolution that affects us all financially. No info on history if this type of thing at other airlines or where the money comes from and how, or what it's used for. gtbfkm
I don't think "quid" going directly to a merger fund is necessarily the right way. That's our money and if we choose to fund a merger fund it should be a finite amount not just whatever we can get for quid. Maybe quid is too much or maybe it's not enough.
Seriously? YGTSM! You come on here preaching about unity being the answer to our contract negotiations, but then make some of the most divisive and condescending comments, specifically about the "degenerates" at the top of the seniority list. You preach people needing to educate themselves, and then come on here and make comments that show how uneducated you are on this issue, both in terms of policy and history. I call you on it, you claim to not be a know-it-all, and only capitulate when you independently verify that you were wrong. Try taking your own advice, stop making insulting and divisive comments about the pilots you work with, and get educated before you make a post on a specific subject.
Originally Posted by
The Juice
All recent mergers involving large airlines didn't need to have a merger assessment to fund a legal team due to the fact that they have nearly unlimited money in their MEC coffers from regular dues. So much that much of these dues are funneled back to ALPA national to help assist with smaller airlines who don't have the money to support a basic MEC structure. This is one reason why Delta has a strong push for an independent union, they keep all of their dues money.
So when Delta merged with NWA and Airways and AA now, their MECs have the money (due to their large size) to fund lawyers. Spirit and its almost 1100 dues paying (underpaid) members don't have those same excess funds for the 7 figure some a legal defense would require, hence the assessment.
Sorry, but most of this is just inaccurate and false. MEC account size has nothing to do with it. In fact, the merger policy does address a small vs large merger to assure the small isn't defeated on fund size alone. Any merger in recent times that used MEC funds for merger activities was either before the merger policy was amended, or didn't involve ALPA/ALPA mergers.