Heyas,

If you pull out all the handwaving about the retirements and the insignificant fences (really, how many aircraft affected? 22?), the DAL/NWA list was a straight ratio list, which is what the arbitrators wanted. The rest was window dressing.

DOH was not considered
Longevity was not considered
Differences in work rules made no difference
Differences in pay made no difference
"Quality of bases" or "Quality of flying" made no difference

With the very slight exception to the 330s, the AWA/AAA merger was exactly the same.

By and large, the arbitrators want an award to be defensible and uncomplicated, and they don't like making new policy. They want the whole thing to fit into two pages, 12 point font, single spaced with lots of footnotes to previous awards.

What they DON'T like are participants that are intractable and pushing an awkward/complicated scheme filled with qualitative "feelings".

Nu