I don't recall hearing him say that, but I can believe he would have. I once talked to him in DTW ops when he was making the rounds and he told one group of pilots one thing, and then within 5 minutes was telling another group something the complete opposite (as in contradictory) because that's what they would want to hear. When he was MEC chair I didn't trust a single word he said.

Someone who's been around long enough may recall he had told original 9E (Pinnacle) pilots during road shows the union would "fix" 9E pilots longevity dates not matching their hire dates at a later time, but to go ahead and vote in what was then the TA (this would be before bankruptcy) to get it done and trust them. Asked about that one and he responded that he'd never waste negotiating capital that would only benefit one premerger segment of the pilot group. He's a politician and he acts like one, that's all there is to it.

I'm perusing through old e-mails right now to see what I can find was said in those, but I can really believe that he'd have said something like that at least in a road show if not in writing. It's been over 5 years now.