Old 04-07-2008 | 04:08 PM
  #126  
sailingfun
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The Delta opener is well know. Here is a portion of a letter form our MEC chairmen.

In a traditional merger scenario, it is common for each Merger Committee to enter negotiations in a very adversarial role with negotiating positions that are very far apart as they posture for the benefit of their pilot group. In a successful negotiation, over time, both parties will find common ground and reach a solution that represents a compromise between the two positions. Almost always, however, the process ends in an abdication of leadership and subsequent binding arbitration.
We were not, however, in a traditional merger scenario. We were breaking new ground and held before us a unique opportunity, but the window for that opportunity was narrow and not able to accommodate either the lengthy timeline or the adversarial relationship of the traditional approach. With that in mind, we approached the negotiating table not at an extreme, but in the middle; not adversarial, but cooperative. We presented a rational and fair integration method that would have provided all pilots of the merged corporation with a post-merger relative seniority very close to that of their respective pre-merger relative positions and included an innovative method of preserving premium flying positions for both pilot groups going forward many years. The other committee took a different approach.

Our reps stated that the combined list had all pilots at both airlines within half a percent of their premerger seniority. As far as the NWA opener I don't know what it was. I do know however that it moved me down almost 19% percent from my current seniority. This came straight from someone involved in the process. All of this is from the openers. There was movement on both sides before the process was ended so no one knows where each side ended.
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