Originally Posted by
jayme
It’s been said many times... the VX guys don’t like being told they were “saved” by the “superior” pilot group of Alaska Airlines. Just look at the above post, saying it was an “acquisition” not a “merger.” Legally speaking it was a merger. Why does this guy even bring up the “acquisition vs merger” argument?
Our displeasure in encountering that attitude manifests itself as a disproportionate defensiveness and sometimes outrage.
See, you’ve attached your identity to your former airline and assigned importance to the pilots.
First off, neither pilot group had anything to do with this marriage. AS pilots could not have saved VX pilots because we had as much control of the thing as you did. We’re all bystanders.
Second, “legally” speaking, it was an acquisition. AAG purchased VX. The two groups didn’t agree to come together and combine their companies. There was never a discussion of which management group would take the helm. There was never a merger of our boards or combining of our holding groups. The fact that you let that bother you is proof of the tribalism that interferes with our collective progress. Yes, the pilot/FA/MX groups merged and from that comes the feelings of resentment. Some gained seniority some lost seniority. Some gained bases others lost bases.
The VX guys feel stuck with the AS contract and have had no say in the rules they now work under. Some AS guys feel that since the VX guys had no contract to begin with, they shouldn’t be complaining about it. Until we all have equal share in the contract good bad or other, there will remain an us vs. them attitude. I look forward to that day.