Originally Posted by
cadetdrivr
Yes.
At some point prior to the merger but after 9/11, UAL ALPA decided to use the "hat switch" as a demonstration of unity and command-and-control in negotiations with the company. The union would direct pilots to either wear, or not wear, the hat as directed. Texts and emails would let pilots know the current hat position.
Since the hat was required and nearly universally worn, it was both peaceful disobedience and a display of unity.
As a result to company made the hat optional to let the air out of the balloon.
I understand and respect all of that history. Don’t let my statement above act as a swipe at what was a unity exercise almost a decade ago by a pre-merger group of our pilots. While it wasn’t stressed at CAL to wear the ALPA pin on the tie(like it isn’t today at Delta), many of us former CAL pilots always did (and many of us did at various airlines prior to CAL as well). Today, I see an extremely high percentage of former CAL pilots wearing the pin on the tie, high enough to be visible with the blazer buttoned. While full “compliance” is certainly not the case (I wish it was just as I wished it was before the merger), the noticeable increase post merger is apparent. I’m hopeful a re-branding of the airline from the uniforms to the paint and logo will get us to the next level(uniform compliance and voluntary wearing of the pin by everyone). My glass is always half full.