The East pilots have gone through several mergers before the America West merger. They knew ALPA merger policy and they knew that arbitration has risks. They failed to prepare their pilots for an outcome other than date of hire. Then they led the feeling of outrage and attempted to overturn an award they knew was final and binding. At every step, when faced with a choice, they took the wrong path. Some of the ALPA leadership actually led the drive to decertify the union.

They have now gotten themselves boxed into a corner where they have perhaps irretrievably split their pilot group. They are unable to obtain any contractual improvements for their pilots. They refuse to honor their committment to the seniority process that THEY AGREED TO. An LCC East A-320 captain makes about $30 an hour less than a Delta A-320 captain. How are they ever going to get another raise unless they accept the integrated seniority list? The one their management has already accepted.

That pretty much makes it the worst example of leadership I have ever seen.