Originally Posted by APC225

And this was obviously the big sticking point in the SLI. Merger policy was changed to include longevity which for LUAL is very important at this point. However it also says that merger seniority starts when you're hired at that company as a pilot.XJT pilots were on the CAL company "payroll as a pilot" on their DOH at XJT. At least that's what their pay stubs say. To not argue for their integration at their XJT DOH would invite a lawsuit from this group.

The bigger clash (I think) is that the street hires are intermingled with these XJT pilots on the LCAL list and therefore placed beside them on the proposed SLI at the nearby XJT pilot's DOH rather than their own, increasing their seniority by years sometimes, certainly not the intent of merger policy. The other option would have been to rearrange LCALs seniority list to place XJT on it at their XJT DOH, something that has never been done except through litigation.

Of course LUAL looks at that and says if LCAL won't put XJT pilots at their original DOH on their own list, then why should they be placed at their original DOH beside more senior LUAL pilots on the integrated list. An obviously valid complaint. I suspect lawyers drove this from the start and lawyers are going to solve it in the end.