ALPA’s merger policy is getting another fresh look. The members of ALPA’s newly established Merger Policy Review Committee met in Herndon, Va., the week of December 3 to begin planning their work leading up to a presentation to the May 2008 Executive Board.

“The first thing that was clear when we sat down was the group’s firm belief in the common goal of capturing the value of merged pilot groups while strengthening the Association,” said the MPRC chairman, Capt. Mike Arcamuzi (FedEx).

“ALPA has been grappling with pilot group mergers for decades, and we will be able to leverage our experience to help in our deliberations. Our work will be careful, measured, and rooted in improving the process for all future merging pilot groups.”

The Committee was established by ALPA’s Executive Board at its September meeting. The Board’s resolution defined the mission of the group: “[T]he President is authorized and directed to appoint a broad-based Merger Policy Review Committee for the purpose of conducting a review of ALPA Merger Policy, concentrating on provisions of Part 1 to be designated by the Committee, with particular attention directed to communications, time lines, and other issues that may arise as a result of changes in the [airline] industry and its environment since 1998.”

The Board required that the “Committee include pilots with merger-related experience” and that it should “consult with the National Officers, counsel, and members who have recent experience under Merger Policy.”

The history of seniority integration within ALPA is long. A “seniority plan” for pilots from different divisions within the same company was adopted by the Board of Directors in 1934 and revised by the BOD in 1936. The policy was discussed and modified at various times between 1939 and 1948; and in 1948, a committee was established to develop policy covering the merger of two or more airlines.

In 1950, ALPA adopted its first merger policy to provide administrative procedures to resolve disputes over seniority-list integration. That policy has been modified to great or minor extent in the following years: 1954, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1971, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2005, and 2006.

“For the most part, Merger Policy has helped pilot groups merge their collective bargaining agreements, seniority lists, and decision-making bodies,” said the Committee vice-chairman, Capt. Tom Wychor (Mesaba). “But every generation has seen a unique twist to mergers and made necessary reforms to policy. We are no different.”

The Committee will make an initial report outlining its work plan to the Executive Council at its January 2008 meeting and an interim report to the Executive Council at its April 2008 meeting. Ultimately, the Committee’s findings and prospective recommendations, if any, will be presented to the May 2008 Executive Board.

The Committee members are Capts. Capt. Mike Arcamuzi (FedEx), chairman; Tom Wychor (Mesaba), vice-chairman; Monty Allan (Air Canada Jazz); Jim Brucia (Continental); Mike Lazarowicz (Northwest); Dave Short (Delta); and Dave Smith (United).