[quote]
What happens if there is nothing labled, designated, or described as a "replacement"? The fdal pilots are entitled exclusively for 5 yrs to the 777 (no mention of any version of 777) aircraft on the property, and when aircraft come on the property, they come from long existing orders when they are "firmed up". We will be taking delivery of several next year, and so far no one from fnwa has made an argument that new 777s should be "replacements" for the (1 or 2?) pax 747-200s being retired....didn't Bloch say "replacements for these aircraft, 747 and 787? No mention of which model 747? There is no replacement for the pax 747-200, it is as simple as that, they are simply getting rid of an uneconomical asset. The same would be true, theoretically of the 747-400...why else would they get rid of them?

As for negotiating away the fences, I don't think the arbitrator's fence award is quite so sacrosanct as you make it out to be. They practically begged us to negotiate during the hearings. I would think they would be pleased to accomodate the wishes of the fdal/fnwa groups if they actually agreed on something! The fences are not quite as "crucial" as they were for the nw/rep merger. Disregard the pronouncements from "on high" of the 3 wise men for a minute and answer a common sense question: With the demise of the 747-200 and rumors of the same for the -400, and the increasing delays/uncertain status of the 787, wouldn't you be willing to lift the fences and call it "even"? Or would you like to gamble that your group will be awarded scores of already fenced 777s as replacements for both 747s and 787s? and that it will be worth the cost of disharmony and contention in the pilot group for the next 5 years?