Que PCL_128, the new Velo
I'd just like to point out that I called this merger yesterday after the UAL/CAL deal fell through. Just wanted to pat myself on the back real quick.
The USAPA things who knows..... I really think it'd depend which company purchased which and also how many of the UAL group can be convienced that USAPA would be better then ALPA... who knows.... funnier things have happen....
Who technically becomes the acquiring airline really has no bearing on who the surviving union is. The law requires that a new representational election take place if the two unions can't agree on who the surviving union will be. So, if that twit Bradford over at USAPA won't just accept defeat at the beginning, then a new vote will take place with the entire combined group. Let's take a look at the numbers:
Former AWA pilots, who voted about 99% in favor of ALPA - 1800 pilots
Original Airways pilots, who voted about 85% in favor of USAPA - 3200 pilots
UAL pilots, the strongest ALPA pilot group with huge ALPA support - 7500 pilots
The likely outcome would be:
USAPA - 2700 (29%)
ALPA - 9300 (71%)
In other words, a massive ALPA landslide. Virtually no UAL pilots will favor USAPA, as they know USAPA is only for themselves, plus the UAL pilots are mostly big ALPA supporters. You have to look long and hard to find a UAL pilot who doesn't wear his ALPA pin, many of whom have battle stars. I've seen the internal UAL message boards, and they are filled with posts from UAL pilots calling the USAPA voters "scabs" among other things. USAPA wouldn't survive a merger, thank God.
I'd be more interested in a scope clause at the regionals.... Would RAH/Mesa have to fly those 86 seaters at 76 seats.... etc.... which regionals would survive? Would RAH buy out the wholly owns.... etc etc.... many things out there in this merger...
The new UAL MEC Chairman is extremely militant. It is likely that UAL ALPA will push hard for tighter scope restrictions. The UAL pilots will demand it. The E-jets that are littering their ramps in ORD and DEN are really starting to piss them off. I think a restriction to 76 seats is a given. Possibly new limits on the number of airframes, also.