Absolutely. If we absorb the pilots at Xjet it will be a full blown staple and no one could argue otherwise. So if you get hired by UA now you will be senior to all the current Xjet pilots.
Only way around that would be do like SWA did with tranny... make them an offer they can't refuse, but the company would have to be integral to that (UA-ALPA can't unilaterally shut down the XJT certificate).
There is no need for the United to absorb anyone. They can simply hire the pilots that they like in the interview process and move on. I don’t see 70 seat jets at mainline any time soon, but if we did the pilots who currently fly those planes don’t have to come with them. United already owns the metal. It isn’t an airline acquisition that would trigger some sort of pilots come too deal. All they have to do is bring the planes to mainline when the leases to the regionals expire and hire from all available sources accordingly. Not wishing a sharp stick in anyone’s eye, just looking at this from a company or legal point of view.