Originally Posted by Bucking Bar

That is close to being true, but not exactly. The Delta MEC never wanted the ASA or Comair pilots and preemptively made sure changes were made to ALPA's Constitution and Bylaws to change the definitions which trigger the union's longstanding merger and fragmentation policy. Specifically, the definition of "operational integration" was removed.

The reasons Giambusso cited were that if ASA & Comair were merged a military pilot would have a choice of flying an RJ for Delta, or a real airplane at American. By merging our carriers Delta would not be as attractive to military pilots. When asked if he was speaking on behalf of our union, or on the behalf of future military pilots, Giambusso stated he had been a military pilot for many more years than he had been an ALPA member. He also made comments about the education, experience level and belief that many ASA pilots had DUI's. In any event, ASA & Comair pilots were not former military pilots and generally not up to Delta's standards.

Thus rebuked, the ASA and Comair pilots tried to push the issue through ALPA national. Being somewhat unsophisticated at the game on this level they followed the procedures laid out by our union like a sequential check list. One of those procedures was to make the application WITHOUT presupposing a seniority outcome.

In simple terms the union was to decide IF there was going to be a merger before the players put forward their seniority integration methodologies.

In the crew room briefings the question of SLI came up. The ASA & Comair pilots were both told (I was there as an ASA pilot) that "ALPA seniority integration recognizes the status quo ... that means lists are most commonly integrated by paycheck or equipment, in either case that would mean a STAPLE."

On the other side of the concourse Delta pilots were being told ASA & Comair pilots were demanding "Date of Hire." That statement was untrue, but it helped politically galvanize the Delta pilots by giving them a common enemy.