I am neither misrepresenting information nor is my source inaccurate.
I was wondering when you would come on here to "shoot the messenger" as you always accuse others of.
My source happens to be me. I was there. I wanted to speak with my union president myself and deliver to him my own message as well as the sentiment of my fellow United pilots. Funny, I didn't see you there. In fact I believe you were typing away here on this web site during the LGA meeting.
I did have several long conversations with the ALPA reps that accompanied Prater, while the East pilots were hidden away with him in a private room. (As a side note, they were also there supporting the organization drive that Colgen Air was holding.) At one point they even called Prater by cell phone to see if he would break for lunch and attend to some required business. The "spirited" debate could be heard loud and clear in the background. They also offered to escort me down to the crew room, but I declined. Prater saw not the USAirway's pilot resolve, but only what the East MEC wanted him to see. Prater and his assistants were well aware of the "peer pressure" factor.
I did come away with some insight into the actual position of the EC (as opposed to the East tag line about the "west not complying with the Rice committee resolution" BS) and their opinion on the JNC and the East refusal to participate. I was also assured once again that captain Prater is keenly aware that the United pilots were pivotal in his election, and that we have his ear when we want it. They are walking a fine political line and must be sure they proceed in a way that does not put themselves in legal jeopardy (ie crossing the "t's" and dotting the "i's"), but their patience is not limitless and neither is that of the other 57,000 ALPA members.
Things will move forward sooner than you think... one way or the other.