Originally Posted by ClappedOut145

“As the May 17 strike deadline neared, Ferris played his trump card. Through carefully orchestrated news releases, Ferris announced that he would hire “permanent replacements” in the event of a strike. To put teeth in his threat, Ferris had, since December 1984, trained, but not hired, 570 new second officers, telling them that they would be used for “expansion.” Clearly, Ferris expected to lure first officers across the picket line with promises of instant captaincies and to use “the 570” (as they came to be known) to fill out scab crews. The 570 were thus in an anomalous position, clearly contingent scabs, having neither union protection nor standing as employees.”

later….



“The young trainees with the odd nametags told Lindsey they were “pre-hires” who would be coming on the line as soon as ALPA signed a new contract. Lindsey, who had been an active “committee puke” at the MEC level, promptly phoned Roger Hall in Chicago to find out what he knew about them—which was nothing. Delegated by Hall to investigate these strange creatures further, Lindsey discovered that they were receiving only 19 days of training instead of the usual four to six weeks, that they were being paid a flat per diem rate of $26, with no allowance for either food or lodging, and that they were as bewilderedabout their status as ALPA was about them.

“Contacting them was real easy,” Lindsey laughs. “All I had to do was put up a sign that said, ‘Pre-hires Welcome Meeting, ALPA—FREE FOOD.’”

In short order, it became clear to everybody that the 570 were a strikebreaker force in training and that ALPA had better reach them quickly. With the assistance of Steve Forte, Bruce Lasch, and Raoul Bouher, Lindsey set up a systematic “contact program” aimed at the 570 as they came through the Denver training center each month. A key element in Lindsey’s “outreach” program involved offering the “pre-hires” tutoring and a “study hall” each evening staffed by ALPA volunteers. Since the 570 were getting nonstandard training but still had to go through the regular exams, they were very grateful. This assistance proved to the 570 in concrete terms that ALPA was more interested in their welfare than was management.”

Flying the Line Volume II.

The 570’s were hired with intent. There’s no argument about it. Now they laud themselves as the saviors of United because they didn’t cross (or went out on sick leave so as to not have to make a decision), but their entry into United was under suspicious terms and meant as a tool for Ferris to break ALPA.