I have heard this rumor as well and believe Larry may have actually said what you posted or at least some version of it.
Why you may ask? Come on guys we are in contract negotiations. We just displayed the most unity we have in the last twenty-two years.
The company propaganda campaign is starting. Why wouldn't Larry want to strategically put a little misinformation in the hooper?
Guess what if I was a betting man, and I am I would bet sometime in the future a number of scenario's are going to be played out by our management. How about one of them being in order to keep from being taken in a hostile takeover by AA (or fill in the blanks - and that is what I was told he said second hand Larry said from someone in the class) we need to keep our costs down and expand. We can't do this without your cooperation as this is best for all of us in the long run etc, etc etc. What your union is asking for is totally unreasonable and will leverage the company and your career.
There are any of number of ways to play this or other strategic misinformation within the pilot group to counteract your union's ability for once to negotiate a real contract.
Guess what been here since 1987. Contract 95 gun to our head sign it or the company will bleed our fledging union to death (IACP) and guess what we need it because mergers are on the horizon.
Contract 97, sign the contract mergers are on the horizon, better go into a merger with contract 97 terms then contract 95.
Contract 02, sing the contract or we will enter bankruptcy (union said company never said but implied) and a judge will take more away. Also beware mergers could happen we have higher W2's then UAL, DAL etc.
Get the common theme here? Also FACT not rumor the last round of articles indicating rumors of AA/CAL merger orginated right from the CAL ALPA office.
Relax and just like me have a standing NO vote unless we negotiate a real contract with significant improvements in the all of the following areas, pay and benefits, quality of life at home and work, SCOPE and real NEW HIRE PAY/INSURANCE AND eliminate the B SCALE YEARS 2-5.
Guess what you are your union and your union needs you. How about signing up for P2P and volunteering your time for the CAL ALPA SPSC. SPSC has four sub committee's - P2P - Family Awareness - Special Projects and Strike Preparedness.
I need help on our Strike Preparedness Committee, how about coming to work with me. You thought Wall Street was good, you ain't seen anything yet.
