757HI

No kidding.

This thread is nearly a year old, and over 250 pages.

Time for a new page in a new thread.

cactiboss

USAPA Board of Pilot Representatives
USAPA Merger Committee
APA Board of Directors
American Airlines Group, Inc.
From: Capt. Ken Stravers
F/0 James Rocky Calveri
Re: Seniority Integration Protocol Agreement
Date: January 30, 2014

We are the two former America West pilots who have been serving on the USAPA BPR-appointed Merger Committee tasked with representing US Airways pilots in connection with the pilot seniority integration that will occur as a result of the merger between American Airlines and US Airways, When we became members of the Merger Committee, we made clear that our role on the Committee was to insist that the seniority list established by the Nicolau Award be used as the base US Airways seniority list in any seniority integration with
any other pilot group. Throughout our tenure on the Committee, we have taken that position. Additionally, since discussions with APA over a seniority integration protocol agreement have commenced, we have taken the position that once a single organization is certified as the representative of all New American pilots, that organization should appoint three merger committees - one to represent American pilots, one to represent US Airways (East) pilots and one to represent US Airways (West) pilots.

Unfortunately, the other members of the Merger Committee - all of whom are East pilots - have refused to consider the Nicolau Award seniority list as a basis for any seniority integration. We further understand that those Committee members - without our participation at all - have developed what they plan to use as a US Airways seniority list in a negotiation and arbitration in connection with the American merger. Finally, we understand that on January 29, 2014, the USAPA Merger Committee - over our objection - submitted a response to an APA propose seniority integration protocol agreement that contemplated only two merger committees - one to represent the pre-merger American pilots and the other to represent the pre-merger US Airways pilots, both East and West.

We are writing this memo to communicate to you our view that any such structure, if adopted, will not provide US Airways (West) pilots any meaningful participation in an American/US Airways seniority integration and will insure that the Nicolau Award a.. will not form the basis for the US Airways' Merger Committee's position regarding seniority integration, and B.. will not even be presented to the American Merger Committee in negotiations or to an arbitrator, if there is an arbitration, as a basis for a US Airways seniority list to be integrated with an American seniority list.

Under these circumstances, we want to make certain that an participating entities know that we, on behalf of the US Airways (West) pilots, do not support the proposed protocol agreement proffered by the USAPA Merger Committee. Further, in light of the USAPA Merger Committee's position on the protocol agreement and
on the role of the Nicolau Award in the American/US Airways Merger, we have determined that the Merger Committee is not committed to represent fairly the interests of the West pilots and we can no longer continue to serve on that Committee. Accordingly, we are providing you with 30 days notice of our resignation from the USAPA Merger Committee.

757HI

That post is worthy of it's own thread, don't you think?

cactiboss

NO! We agreed to keep the east scum BS on this thread.

flybywire44

*two thumbs up*

PurpleTurtle

Did East pilots write that letter?

R57 relay

The two West members of our Merger Committee have resigned. At a meeting on January 29, 2014, our entire Committee met in Washington in an attempt to resolve our differences on what lists to work with as we proceed with the Seniority List Integration (SLI). As you know, our Committee is tasked with protecting the seniority of all USAPA pilots, East and West. While this Committee has always had differences regarding the equity and fairness of the unmodified Nicolau award, the West members have always told us they would consider other methods of integration once the courts ruled. They gave that assurance at the time they were appointed to the Committee and reaffirmed that commitment after their appointments. Now that the Federal Court in Phoenix, AZ has determined USAPA is not obligated to submit the Nicolau Award's Integrated Seniority List (ISL) as the premerger seniority list for US Airways pilots, the West members have reneged on their prior assurance and refuse to consider alternative methods for achieving an ISL with the American pilots. During the meeting, the East members repeatedly offered to have them review and consider a series of potential SLI methods. However, they stated the unmodified Nicolau award is the only list they would consider. We have, of course, considered the unmodified Nicolau list and our thorough review clearly demonstrates that it doesn’t satisfy the fair and equitable requirements of McCaskill-Bond, nor is it fair for our pilot group as a whole.

The West members offered as a solution, that they be assigned to a West-only committee to advocate for the unmodified Nicolau award. The East members do not have the ability to approve or disapprove that request, but we told them we would present that request to the BPR. The next morning, before we had the chance to present this request to the BPR, they abruptly resigned via email in a letter (click here) that contained numerous inaccuracies.

The East committee members have consistently tried to engage the West committee members as we work toward a fair and equitable list, but we could not persuade them to consider alternative methodologies for seniority integration. During this meeting on the 29th, they made it clear they would only consider the unmodified Nicolau award. That unreasonable stance cannot serve the interests of all US Airways pilots and does not fulfill the duties of our Committee or USAPA’s Duty of Fair Representation to all US Airways pilots. All proposals made by this Committee must be, and will be fair for all pilots; not just West pilots and not just East pilots.We are continuously working toward a fair and equitable list which we will present as our case. At this time, nothing more has been decided beyond our conclusion that the unmodified Nicolau list is not an option. Regrettably, in spite of our effort to salvage their participation, in a letter to President Hummel, (click here) Chairman Pauley recommended he accept their resignation due to their unreasonable and inflexible stance.

Meaningful participation of any Merger Committee member requires the ability to be open-minded in order to explore and consider many aspects of how the lists may eventually be merged. If West participation on our Committee is limited to unwavering and unreasonable commitment to the unmodified Nicolau list, it obstructs our desire, goal, and ability to reach a fair and equitable SLI as required by McCaskill -Bond. Particularly after two court decisions holding to the contrary, continued strident pursuit for imposition of the Nicolau list is a disservice to all of our pilots.

It is our desire to have West members on our Committee who are committed to the McCaskill-Bond goals of a fair and equitable SLI for all US Airways and American pilots. If any West pilot feels they can make that commitment to work with us toward that goal, we would welcome them to the Committee. In the meantime, we will continue the work for a fair and equitable SLI for all pilots of the new American Airlines.

R57 relay

The two West members of our Merger Committee have resigned. At a meeting on January 29, 2014, our entire Committee met in Washington in an attempt to resolve our differences on what lists to work with as we proceed with the Seniority List Integration (SLI). As you know, our Committee is tasked with protecting the seniority of all USAPA pilots, East and West. While this Committee has always had differences regarding the equity and fairness of the unmodified Nicolau award, the West members have always told us they would consider other methods of integration once the courts ruled. They gave that assurance at the time they were appointed to the Committee and reaffirmed that commitment after their appointments. Now that the Federal Court in Phoenix, AZ has determined USAPA is not obligated to submit the Nicolau Award's Integrated Seniority List (ISL) as the premerger seniority list for US Airways pilots, the West members have reneged on their prior assurance and refuse to consider alternative methods for achieving an ISL with the American pilots. During the meeting, the East members repeatedly offered to have them review and consider a series of potential SLI methods. However, they stated the unmodified Nicolau award is the only list they would consider. We have, of course, considered the unmodified Nicolau list and our thorough review clearly demonstrates that it doesn’t satisfy the fair and equitable requirements of McCaskill-Bond, nor is it fair for our pilot group as a whole.

The West members offered as a solution, that they be assigned to a West-only committee to advocate for the unmodified Nicolau award. The East members do not have the ability to approve or disapprove that request, but we told them we would present that request to the BPR. The next morning, before we had the chance to present this request to the BPR, they abruptly resigned via email in a letter (click here) that contained numerous inaccuracies.

The East committee members have consistently tried to engage the West committee members as we work toward a fair and equitable list, but we could not persuade them to consider alternative methodologies for seniority integration. During this meeting on the 29th, they made it clear they would only consider the unmodified Nicolau award. That unreasonable stance cannot serve the interests of all US Airways pilots and does not fulfill the duties of our Committee or USAPA’s Duty of Fair Representation to all US Airways pilots. All proposals made by this Committee must be, and will be fair for all pilots; not just West pilots and not just East pilots.We are continuously working toward a fair and equitable list which we will present as our case. At this time, nothing more has been decided beyond our conclusion that the unmodified Nicolau list is not an option. Regrettably, in spite of our effort to salvage their participation, in a letter to President Hummel, (click here) Chairman Pauley recommended he accept their resignation due to their unreasonable and inflexible stance.

Meaningful participation of any Merger Committee member requires the ability to be open-minded in order to explore and consider many aspects of how the lists may eventually be merged. If West participation on our Committee is limited to unwavering and unreasonable commitment to the unmodified Nicolau list, it obstructs our desire, goal, and ability to reach a fair and equitable SLI as required by McCaskill -Bond. Particularly after two court decisions holding to the contrary, continued strident pursuit for imposition of the Nicolau list is a disservice to all of our pilots.

It is our desire to have West members on our Committee who are committed to the McCaskill-Bond goals of a fair and equitable SLI for all US Airways and American pilots. If any West pilot feels they can make that commitment to work with us toward that goal, we would welcome them to the Committee. In the meantime, we will continue the work for a fair and equitable SLI for all pilots of the new American Airlines.

Capt Hindsight

So these guys joined the merger committee under the guise of representing the west pilots, but with no intent of any constructive input. Just show up, be intransigent, and then resign, feigning surprise and disgust that their position was not 100% adopted.

So now the west has no one to participate in the process, report back to their group, etc. Talk about failure to fairly represent...

IMHO of course,
Capt H

Wiskey Driver

Did usapa have in writing that west members would consider other avenues?? Produce that document where they agreed to this. I bet not so IMHO this is just more usapa lies. The west is in no way going to consider ANYTHING that places one east pilot ahead of what NIC awarded in the arbitration. So back to court we go. DAL will be on contract 5 by the time we get done in the courts and all because the east makes and deal then refuses to honor it.

WD at AWA