I received a message today from an AWA pilot and his comments below are posted with his permission.
Regards,
USA320Pilot
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Good observations. Here are some random thoughts.
I believe it will take a miracle to save ALPO on property.
West pilots are finally softening up a bit, realizing that they'd better cut a fence deal with ALPO before there is a representation election. Reality and accuracy may finally be trumping advocacy and bashing.
McIlvenna's "Kum-Bi-Ya" web board post was not made in a vacuum. "Herndong" must have given him a look at the Wilson Polling of East pilots. He is freaked out. For five months he has been head cheerleader and chief provocateur in his demagoguery. He rallied the troops to a fervor all right, but now the damage is already done.
Ultimately I believe it will be Parker who determines whether USAPA gets elected. As much as Parker would like to put this together, I don't think he is going to come up with the money it will take to pass a TA.
On the East, the less money he offers, the taller the fences will have to be. On the West, the less money he offers, the lower the fences will have to be. And we are back to a stand-off, unless Parker is willing to loosen the purse strings, which I don't think he is willing to do.
The problem appears to be that we are entering into JNC negotiations that will include fences. And fences are a de-facto way of re-ordering the list. That is something not allowed under ALPA Merger Policy. The fence issue belongs back with the two merger committees and actually back with Nicolau. That old goat needs to hear first hand how his bizarre ruling has torn apart a company and will ultimately destroy a union. I believe Nicolau put his own ego ahead of common sense and precedent in issuing the award. The East MC dissed him. He needed to make them pay.
The real joker in all this has to be the MDA DFR lawsuit. If MDA pilots win (and so far there doesn't appear to be any indication that they won't), that win alone could either overturn the "Nic," or it could put 300+ East pilots (from Dean Colello on down) ahead of Dave O'Dell. Ironically, it might be in ALPO's best interest to lose the case and settle on a non-monetary award with the MDA pilots. Ergo: reordering the list.