Originally Posted by alfaromeo

Carl,

According to DPA's lawyer, negotiating seniority is like negotiating a crew meal, no difference. If you don't believe me, go search youtube for a video series titled something like "Can't take the heat, USAPA in the desert." The whole thing is like two hours on 8 or 9 different videos so I am not going to spend the time to find the right link.

So DPA's lawyer has said that it is quite easy to renegotiate a seniority list. It might be difficult for him to announce that for another group that it's impossible to renegotiate a seniority list, that presents a severe conflict of interest there.

You are flat out wrong about the state of US Air's seniority list. There was a transition agreement that stated the process that the two groups would use to create an integrated list. That process was completed and the list was accepted by the company. There is a single seniority list at US Air, it just hasn't been used for anything because they are still in separate ops. Changing that list is no different that changing our list, and DPA's attorney says that seniority is just like a crew meal, so it's easy to change.

I don't know what lounge you hang out in in Detroit, but the one I hang out in has many people talking about how DPA is going to change the seniority list. DPA's attorney says that date of hire is the gold standard in integrating seniority lists, so that might be their target.

The problem with DPA now is that it is all things to all people. Some vote for DPA because they want a new seniority list. I have heard green book guys say that DPA is their ticket to seek revenge on the red book guys. Junior guys think DPA will eliminate RJ's and create hundreds of new mainline jet orders overnight. Middle seniority guys think that DPA will magically deliver a 50% pay raise. Some Delta dead zoners think DPA will deliver a new pension wrapped in a pretty bow. I don't know if the delay in delivering their constitution falls at least in part to somehow reconciling these diverse views of DPA.

One thing is certain, DPA is a chameleon now. Whenever their stated goals or milestones get in the way of reality, they merely change their website and voila, they are still all things to all people. If only it were that easy in the real world.