Originally Posted by sailingfun

DALPA can’t merge anyone into the seniority list. Only management can do that. In order to hold a Delta seniority number you must be employed at Delta. If management chooses to merge 9E than negotiations would begin on the seniority list. No negotiated settlement would be reached as 9E pilots would be foolish to agree to a staple. It would go to arbitration where the arbitrator is required to use ALPA merger policy in crafting a combined list. Here is that policy.

The policy states that the factors that must be considered in constructing a fair and equitable integrated seniority list, in no particular order and with no particular weight, now include but are not limited to career expectations, longevity, and status and category.

If you are a Delta pilot don’t count on a staple. Status in the above list could really hurt on the Delta side. It could impact a considerable portion of the bottom half of the list. A prenuptial agreement could result in a staple but that would require management at Delta to work with DALPA to push such a agreement on 9E. Prior prenups include Delta/PanAm and SWA/AirTran. It’s unlikely given the current union management relationship that management would support a prenup.