American Airlines Pilots Reject Plan To Explore Merger With ALPA

American Airlines pilots have rejected what could have been the initial step in leaving their union to join the Air Line Pilots Association.

In a vote Thursday afternoon at Dallas, the board of directors of the Allied Pilots Association voted 10-10 on a motion to form a merger negotiations committee. “A decision to pursue or investigate an affiliation or merger pursuant to a representation vote” requires a two thirds majority, according to APA’s constitution.

The group AA Pilots for ALPA previously indicated in a post on its website that it could seek a union election to replace APA, but a spokesman was not available to comment on Friday.

The formation of a merger negotiations committee had the support of both pilot domicle leaders from Charlotte, Philadelphia and Phoenix, all former US Airways bases, as well as Chicago. But both leaders from Boston, Washington, Dallas, and Los Angeles were opposed. Leaders from Miami and New York were split.

“It was a very difficult decision, “ said Doug Hancock, chairman of APA’s Charlotte domicile. “I voted for the exploratory committee because, as an elected rep, I’ve got to do what my membership in Charlotte directed me to.” But Hancock said he has not always been pleased with ALPA’s representation of various pilots including his father.

In April, a five-pilot committee of APA, which represents 15,000 American pilots, concluded its study of a merger with ALPA, which represents 67,000 pilots at 39 U.S. and Canadian airlines. That committee said it had not found any roadblocks to a merger and seemed to look forward to moving on to the next step.

“The APA board of directors received the APA-ALPA merger exploratory committee’s fidings and recommendations,” said an email to members of AA Pilots for ALPA. “They then considered a motion to form the APA-ALPA merger negotiation committee in accordance with the committee’s unanimous recommendation. The motion failed to pass.”

In its message to members, APA said that in its report, the exploratory committee “provided comparisons of APA and ALPA in several broad areas such as structure and governance, supplemental benefits plans offered by the two unions, airline merger and seniority integration issues, staff-related considerations, government affairs, and financial considerations.”

The message said that APA President CA Ed Sicher had addressed the board and quoted from his opening remarks, which were non-committal.

Sicher said APA, formed in 1963, “has always prioritized safety and respect and representing its members. Through mergers and bankruptcies, economic downturns and a pandemic, APA has adapted to meet the needs of its pilots.” He also noted, “We have learned that we are best served when we are open to self-evaluation and candid consideration of how the association may best serve the interests of its members.

“Always remember that the strength of any union is in the unity of its membership and a willingness to look out for each other,” Sicher concluded.