Again sorry I missed the post. If you fall outside the 570 profile that's great.

 

Ewr,

If you guys are not paying an assessment for the merger then my apologies. My LEC chair told me you had retained a law firm with a reputation of success in these matters. (don't remember the name of the firm) At the time he was using this as his argument for why I should vote for our own assessment. I voted NO as it is ALPA policy I was counting on to represent my interest. Why should we have to pay twice for an ALPA to ALPA merger.

Guess I should not have be surprised to have had an ALPA guy be less than truthful and attempt to use scare tactics. One trick ponies.

Again I think the success of this merger will depend on us the line pilots being able to sort through the BS. The ALPA guys are all too busy trying to secure power and position to worry about our needs. They will broker this deal that gives them individually the best political position in the aftermath. We are along for the ride. Good luck to you and to all of us.

L

 

Are the UAL guys paying an assessment?

I've wondered why we weren't paying one. As a former Eastie, I have no problem with paying for the best/most fair SLI, for CAL and UAL, that we can get. Money well spent IMHO.

 

We are currently paying a merger assessment.

 

To maybe explain what you were told: CALALPA started this process with money already in a merger fund (I think around $1 million). There may be a possibility that a merger assessment will be presented to the pilot group at some point for when the fund balance drops below a certain amount. This information was stated at one of our local council meetings.

So, while we have retained merger counsel, we didn't have to immediately start with an assessment to cover those costs initially. I don't see any fault with what your LEC chair told you, unless he specifically said, "CAL pilots are already being assessed for this merger integration."

 

Sorry, but as an outsider, I saw your update as pointless and divisive. Other that assuring the EWR pilots that without you they are doomed by the forces around them, I see little else in this vanity piece. Your airlines are merged now, whether you like it or not. You have one pilot group now, whether you like it or not, and you are supposed to be a leader of that group. Leading means you have to unify the group and not drive wedges. If your little feelings have been hurt by something a United pilot said, then suck it up and move on. Public crying is not very attractive.

 

NOT accurate....may want to review your info.

Last time I check, "his" pilot groups still works under a separate CAL POS '02 CBA. "His" pilot group still resides on a separate seniority list.....thus 'separate group' as we presently speak. Is this something that we are attempting/working to procure by way of a Transition Agreement to a JCBA?? ABSOLUTELY.....we ALL have seen the obvious of what happens if not done in that manner.

Although I understand that the financial portion of the merger is complete, there will still be some sort of "divisive nature" no matter how you want to paint it.....just the nature of the beast in any Merger. Don't believe me?? You CAN'T tell me that ALL the DAL/NWA pilots are happier that Pigs in *******!! It's a Fairy Tale that will NEVER be fully obtainable. Regardless of the situation, do I sponsor that kind of 'division' & call it acceptable?? NOT at all......BUT what I'm willing to do is 'think outside' of Fantasy Land to realize the reality that there will ALWAYS be those who will NEVER be happy.....especially in Airline Merger's......Period.

As it was stated earlier in this thread, if you can not realize that BOTH MEC's are going to "work together"...as well as stand toe-to-toe to each other on T/A specifics via their respective Neg Comm's to make sure 'alls fair'....you are failing to look reality in the face. ONCE again, he did NOT write that as an 'airing' to UAL vs CAL. What's wrong if he wanted to stoke the fire/fight w/in 'his' pilots to ralley during the Neg for a JCBA against the company?? After all, on that day last week, BOTH UAL & CAL lost a little bit of their identity.

Hypersensitive??

 

good post and I agree. I'm over the whole thing. Lets press to a JCBA, get this thing merged and get back to drinking beer on the beach somewhere.

 

Thanks for the clarification. Did you guys previously pay into a merger fund to have the $1million? I guess I am curious as to where the money came from. I would suspect that the UA pilot group could have had such a fund, except for the fact that our own ALPA guys sued the union (two former MEC Chairs and a big mouth west coast 400 Capt that was hired at 21 in 78) They felt they didn't get enough of the pie in our BK exit. Thus the suit and a significant cost to the union.

If I were CALPA I wouldn't worry about the UAL MEC. Those guys are truly the Apple Dumpling Gang of leadership. We have a faction of the union trying to replace the current MEC Chair with the previous MEC chair that led us to the court injunction. From what I have heard they are brokering deals behind closed doors with the CAL MEC to gain political position. Hate to say I told you so...but it appears the UAL MEC is being fractured to gain political ground for themselves versus gains for the pilot group. God help us with these incompetent power hungry morons running the show.

And UA ALPA Just endorsed Paul Rice-a-Roni for ALPA National Chairman. The money we pay to be so poorly represented should be a crime!

L

 

Clarify if you can.....

I 'heard' that Rice's big (or one of his 'top' items) push is to 'explore' another increase in "Age 65"----->"Age 70"???

Not being facetious.....any truth to that info?? If so, I don't 'think' he'll gain much support in his campaign....GOD, at least I 'hope'.