Originally Posted by
SeamusTheHound
An airline cannot "FORCE" you to give up anything at another company. They have NO business interfering with your relationship with your other company and cannot force the other company to DENY you your seniority rights.
Besides, the company you are leaving can choose to ignore any "resignation" letter that a new outfit tells you to send. They are not bound by any obligation to your new employer.
Your best bet is to talk to your present employer and get confirmation (preferably in writing) about what your rights are if and when you want to come back. This agreement is NONE of your new employer's business and they are not entitled to interfere with such an agreement between you and your old boss. DON'T let them tell you otherwise.
This is generally correct, and I'm with you 100% philosophically, however...
There is no federal law that I am aware of (unless the recent integration bill had language to this effect), so you might end up are relying on the courts.
In the past it was common for a hiring airline to require that you sign a letter giving up your seniority from the furlough airline...the hiring airline would then mail the letter for you
Some mainline folks sued someone and won, which set a precedent so that fewer airlines will try to do that now. But a few might still require it, because it doesn't cost them anything. The lawsuit in question was against the furlough airline (which ended up taking the pilots back), not the hiring airline. The point of law was that the resignation had been under duress, and was not valid.
What is fair and right is one thing, but if you actually resign your seniority at a furlough airline you might need a lawyer to get it back. Something to keep in mind.