In hindsight, for sure, but nobody saw this coming. And their career expectation at Virgin up until recently was that it was better to not make a career there but somewhere else like Alaska. Doesn't apply to all Virgin's pilots but nobody at Alaska would say, "You know what? I would rather be at Virgin. I'm leaving Alaska!"

"Negotiable" ?

Well, I expect they may try, but ultimately negotiation won't be a factor, arbitration will. In arbitration both sides walk a fine line by presenting what is most favorable to their interests without blatantly overreaching.

The arbs will sort it out and use the components of ALPA merger policy adjusted for pre-merger economics. ALPA can't screw you because they won't decide, the arbs will. Just my .02.......

Each side will make all kinds of claims in arbitration. The arbs will ferret out the wheat from the chaff.

I'm sure you'll say the same when you get bumped out of your base/seat.

Lets hope that this merger will be handled like we actually are a true union...and not a spoiled brat, silver spoon, college boy tantrum...There are many long time union brothers at Virgin and in all likelyhood there MEC is a much stronger representative body than our own.....We have a huge hurdle ahead if we hope to ever have a contract that represents the value of our tradecraft......You can bet your last dollar that every single member of our current management from Brad down hopes we turn into a bunch of mewling selfish punks....more worried about paint jobs and upgrades and "career expectations".....and take our eye off the ball....our contract, due in 2018, is our last chance ever to get back what we gave, and elavate ourselves to the level we want and deserve

I have been here 17 years and I fully expect to have Virgin guys eventually take their place above me.....we need to fill in our seniority list with Virgin pilots at all levels. We need to get them on our contract.....and capture their fighting spirit to help undo the wrongs of Kasher, Contract 09 and our last loser Contract 13......We need to reach out to them and get their group to start banging our Contract 18 drum.............These are seasoned warriors fresh from the fight....They can bring some life to our slovenly, corpulent representation body and help us rise

Hahaha 2013 was the contract to "get back what we gave" but what did you do? Vote yes most likely. Blinded by ALPAs threat of "you better vote yes or else..." koolaid.

Notaro can email all the feel good "we're all in this togetherness" koom by ya letters all he wants. There's no fooling me. I pay them to look out for ME, not virgin pilots. The virgin MEC will look to get as much progression on our list as they can. As they should. You honestly think that they're sitting there right now wondering about how they can protect the interest of the AS pilot? Those guys are all wondering right now if they should go hit vega$ because they all think they just hit the seniority jackpot. I pay my MEC to prevent them from doing so as much as possible. This "togetherness" mindset is a crock. This is business.

What is the best guess on the transaction date as it applies to alpa SLI? When the operating certificate is integrated in 2018 or sooner?

The blood hasn't even dried and we already have people whining like stuck pigs. You know who you are, "oh my vagina hurts" cry babies! SLI will be what it will be and none of us involved will have very little to no control over it. I feel for all ranks but especially the junior folks, no doubt.
Some of you feel extremely entitled, having spent over a decade at a regional or wherever before coming to Alaskan Airways. Guess what, everyone here has paid their dues one way or another so man up! We all bash the senior "I got mine" crowd but some of you act just like them. Like it or not, $hit just hit the fan for both pilot groups and neither of the groups wanted/asked for/dreamed of this so now, we deal with it like an adult. I hate to break it to you but life is not fair. I bet you didn't know that. For once, put yourself aside and try to put yourself in the shoes of a junior Virgin pilot or someone less junior to you. This is the exact sort of attitude that got us our current turd of a contract! True colors are coming out from the woodworks.
Btw, I'm pretty sure Klsytakesit voted NO on our last contract. I know it's just a web forum but you'll get no credibility when you spout off from your anus.

If that happens, (highly unlikely) what am I supposed to do about it? Throw out ALPA? USAPA cost the us air pilots over a billion dollars in lost wages chasing their emotional pipe dream by tossing ALPA. I get it. I get the anger. It's not going to change anything. We need the focus on our own arguments and find every shred of leverage we have in this and not blow it...again.