Originally Posted by
Kellwolf
It will be interesting to see if any fences come up during the SLI. I could actually see it happening without fences, myself. I think there's enough movement at all three properties that we could probably slide by without them. Even then, I don't see the -200 getting fenced off. There's just too darn many of them. There ARE some "seat lock" provisions in the TA, but it's mainly to keep people from base hopping and cashing in on moving days the way they used to when we had a vacancy every month at 9E.
There are even 1 year FO seat locks from upgrade (yea, I know, not cool) but if there are no fences there will be a good bit of movement with vacancies (and only through vacancies by seniority) and then it will slow. Many guys are looking to bid the -900 FO or -200 FO and there will be a need for that (from the 9E side we are extremely short on pilots) but FO's will need to figure out if they will be able to upgrade in a year or they may cut themselves short. I see the -200 and -900 FO going relatively junior as guys (like myself) are close to upgrade anyway. On the CA side it's also 1 year after new equip but 2 years if you go to a lower paying CA position. So if a -200 MEM CA wants to go to the Q there will be a 2 year lock. I think it will come down to QOL for many, the idea of commuting across bases for an upgrade when you live in base will be something to think about. The opportunity for those who want a CA slot in anything will still exist. The Sli is all speculation. I am good friends with all of our merger guys and can say that NOTHING has even begun to be discussed across all 3 groups as far as lists and fences, so it's all speculation. The TA though DOES have locks so the company can minimize training expenses, the downfall is that someone can't just go -200 FO, -900 FO, then -200 CA in a year. This upgrade lock is new at 9E, but I understand it as a standard practice elsewhere.