Originally Posted by
itsjustajob
The NMB is involved to determine whether or not there exists or there has ever been a process or precedent establishing the cessation of Section 6 with anything other than the ratification by Union membership after the conclusion of the negotiation process.
Given that both Pilot groups having already accomplished thru their specific "Opener" requirements have in fact entered into Section 6. These processes by both Union and Company have and were acknowledged prior to the acquisition announcement by management.
Its the position of the Union and supported by past case history that Section 6 for Both parties must be allowed to continue to its final outcome before entering into a JCBA process.
The current position of the company by virtue of statements by the COO, is that the current situation is solely to delay or as he stated "To Get duration" out of the existing CBA. With that in mind, the current delay is a tactic by management to delay Section 6 for both carriers. Oddly, this is counter to what the company thru its middle management has put out.
Its debatable as to the specific purpose, but with the recent approval of $66.6M in compensation to the board, it appears that a possible change of ownership may be the ultimate reason for the intentional delay by the company in the process.
Despite all that, never mind the specific contracts having language allowing for Mergers, the process of Section 6 having already commenced must first be taken to its ultimate conclusion before proceeding with the merger provisions of the CBA.
The NMB will have to decide the merits of those facts.
I think you said it pretty well... AND you may have precedent on your side....
What you have working against you is an NMB that probably wont entertain anything but negotiations for at least 2-3 years (even with a mediator). So Atlas takes 2-3 years to get a contract. Southern takes the same. WHO knows what the economic model and the state of the industry will be then. I believe Atlas will get a contract absolutely with rates in excess of K4s.... how long that takes is the million dollar question...and remember boys the NMB and its mediator will drive that agenda to a large extent.
Delay is their game... and they will play it as long as they can... in our case delay while painful probably worked to our benefit... I hope you are as lucky. Economic factors down the road will play a large part in how long this takes for you guys. Good Luck.