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Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2001
- Posts
- 6,137
Joe - I agree with your desire, but think requests from our pilots are falling on ears that are tuned into the frequency ALPA National is broadcasting.JoeMerchant said:
ALPA is against it for a variety of reasons (1) for fear that they might lose a combined ASA/SkyWest vote and (2) ALPA might actually have to take a position which represents the combined members at ASA, SkyWest, Comair that would over rule the minority at Delta.
The only way one list is going to happen is if SkyWest first votes ALPA (removing downside risk for the union) and if then both pilot groups scream for a merger and management wants a merger too. Considering that ASA has First Officers with hire dates that would make them a mid seniority captain at SkyWest and SkyWest is recieving the best fruit of ASA's operation without integration I see little reason why SkyWest pilots would want to stop whipsaw. Until they raise their rates (if ever, without ALPA) they will continue to benefit by being the less expensive alternative.
The only way to force the issue is to toss ALPA and try it on our own. ALPA is not going to respond to what the members at ASA want - their stubborn refusal to adopt a brand scope solution, or accept the RJDC's reforms indicate their strong political will in the face of over whelming evidence of their erroneous path.
So we are stuck with the devil we know, or the devil we don't know. Without ALPA we would never be able to fund or fight a single list battle. So our only reasonable choice is to support ALPA, try our best to not step on the Delta pilots' politics or sensitivities and support our local Representatives who have our best interests at heart.
At the same time we should continue to fight ALPA in Court to force the issue of our representation. We need both internal cooperation and external force to obtain representation for ASA's pilots.
Regards,
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P.S. Can you imagine if Delta got bought and the acquiring company decided not to merge their pilots? You think ALPA would sit around and watch their flying get transferred? Could be, after all ASA and Comair got bought and ALPA (as a result of the Delta pilots desires) allowed the lists to remain separate and flying is getting transferred. There are E170's parked wingtip to wingtip to 737's with non ALPA pilots at the controls. Who knows why ALPA continues down this road....
