Originally Posted by
Hueypilot
Interesting quote out of Section A of the MTA regarding our 2016 pay raises:
"e. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties agree that if any hourly pay rate to be in effect on January 1. 2016 at any of the Industry Comparators deviates significantly from historical levels, the parties will discuss an equitable adjustment to correct for such deviation. Deviations from historical levels would include, but not be limited to, short term or temporary rate increases overlapping the measurement period and a pay rate for an aircraft type that deviates significantly from pay rates of other aircraft types at such Industry Comparator.
On or before July 1, 2015 , the parties will meet and confer for a period of up to 30 days to attempt to achieve a voluntary agreement for an Industry Comparable Pay Rate Adjustment. If by August 1, 2015, the parties are unable to achieve a voluntary agreement on an Industry Comparable Pay Rate Adjustment (calculated according to subsections a., b., and c. above, and subject to subsection d. above), they will submit the issue of an Industry Comparable Pay Rate Adjustment to interest arbitration under the procedures of Section 7 of the Railway Labor Act.
(1) The parties will agree on or before August 1, 2015 to the appointment of three neutral arbitrators, to include Richard Bloch, if available, as the principal neutral. Failing agreement on the appointment of three neutral arbitrators on or before DOS + 31 months, the parties will request the National Mediation Board to appoint a panel of three neutral arbitrators (to include Richard Bloch, if available, as the principal neutral), who are members of the National Academy of Arbitrators.
(2) To facilitate the interest arbitration, the parties may enter an interest arbitration agreement setting forth ground rules for the interest arbitration. In the absence of such interest arbitration agreement, the interest arbitration will be conducted according to the provisions of this Agreement and whatever ground rules the panel deems appropriate.
(3) The parties will share equally all costs of interest arbitration.
(4) The interest arbitration will begin on or before September 1, 2015 and a hearing will be concluded and a decision issued on or before December 1, 2015."
Anyone see any hangups with that language?
Yes, I mentioned "industry comparable" (NOT industry average) arbitrated pay in a previous post. Delays could certainly drag completion of this merger past the planned date. Perhaps that's why Parker seemed to target his desire to move the process forward this morning at his little cocoa puff party. He also said the 2016 figure of 13% I believe and that being only slightly less then the than the 16% initial cram down rate.
Personally, I like the idea of dragging the process until the last minute to put Parker under the same duress he's been more then happy to jerk us around with. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. We still get 3% in 5 weeks and our large bump comes January 2016 regardless.
Keep the work rules.