Well it's about time. Maybe just maybe we will finally start being made whole. This is good news for us out west.

WD at AWA

If there is one certainty in this whole mess, neither the East or the West will be made whole. USAPA ensured that you all lost in this mess. It is a shame. Hopefully future pilot groups will see the folly of their behavior.

Perfectly stated

I have said the same thing to R57 several times. However, the attitude of the arbitrators during this last dance I found, interesting. This SLI is not about punishing the East. That is a different kettle of fish. But still......... they were pretty open with their comments. That surprised me. They are only (well allegedly) human.

Their comments were appropriate as considering the realities of the past, it would impossible for the West to get a fair shake as per M-B muzzled in the corner represented by an entity that has acted against their interests in the past. Many flowthrus feel the same way about APA.

Quote from the Arbitrator ruling:

"The MOU also established the framework whereby the parties would integrate pilot seniority lists for the two carriers utilizing a process consistent with McCaskill-Bond. In the event the parties were unable to negotiate an integrated seniority list, the dispute would then be submitted to a panel of arbitrators for consideration."

They do not view it as a merger of three airlines. As somebody previously mentioned you will not find a mention of America West in this transaction. There are not 3 separate career expectations. There are two.

Here is the link to the arbitrator ruling if you care to read it for yourself.
http://nebula.wsimg.com/f40aed0ca68a...&alloworigin=1

Some more interesting quotes from the recent ruling that give a good insight into the line of thinking amongst the arbitrators. If I was an Eastie I would be pushing the panic button as it's clear the panel saw right through the East BS.

"It is worth noting that the East Pilot group was unhappy with the result of the Nicolau Award, believing that the integrated seniority list was less favorable to them than it was to the West Pilot group. The East Pilots preferred the use of the “date of hire” method of integrating seniority lists and had unsuccessfully sought to have this method adopted at arbitration. After the Nicolau Award was issued, a group of East Pilots established a new union, USAPA, which was set up to block the introduction of the Nicolau Award and to promote the use of “date of hire” for integrated seniority list purposes."

"In October 2012, the District Court in Addington II ruled that the issue was still not ripe for consideration as the parties had not reached an agreement for a single CBA. The court noted that USAPA was free to abandon the Nicolau Award if it so chose, but it went on to hold that USAPA was on “dangerous ground” by seeking to discard the Nicolau Award. In particular, the court found:
“By discarding the result of a valid arbitration and negotiation for a different seniority regime, USAPA is running the risk that it will be sued by disadvantaged pilots when the new collective bargaining agreement is finalized. An impartial arbitrator’s decision regarding an appropriate method of seniority integration is powerful evidence of a fair result. Discarding the Nicolau Award places USAPA on dangerous ground.”

I've read the ruling. The fact the arbitrators in this instance describe merging the lists from "two airlines" foes not mean the Nic is a given. That is your interpretation. It IS technically two airlines, but still three separate lists. That's what occurs in arbitrations - a difference of opinion and interpretation. It would also occur in the JCBA if we go there.

If anything, these comments support "splitting the baby" and the arbitrators were simply stating foundation for awarding the West a seat. As for the court case and "dangerous ground", that is in the context if DFR should USAPA have sought to unilaterally institute their own list. A new arbitration will decide, not USAPA. The West model will be based in the Nic, the East won't and the AAL committed model will not include the Nic.

There is also this quote....

The Board notes that there are three such groups of pilots within the newly merged Company - East
Pilots, West Pilots, and legacy American Pilots. Each pilot group is on a
separate seniority list and, therefore, has a distinct interest regarding the
integration of those seniority lists.

and this....

APA denies that the designation of a West Pilot Merger Committee is
unreasonable or somehow arbitrary. It notes that all Company Pilots – East
Pilots, West Pilots, and legacy American Pilots – are on separate seniority lists
and, thus, have disparate interests regarding the integration of those lists.
Appointing a West Pilot Merger Committee will ensure that the interests of all
pilots will be properly represented during the SLI negotiations, APA contends


and this...

The Company insists that the appointment of a West Pilots Merger
Committee would allow competing opinions to be heard during the seniority
integration arbitration. APA, as the sole bargaining representative for all
Company pilots, can and should designate a separate merger committee to
represent the distinct minority interests of West Pilots, the Company asserts.
Doing so would ensure the pilots on each of the three (3) separate seniority lists
are fully and fairly represented throughout the integration process, the Company
maintains. Adopting this approach would also expedite achieving an integrated
seniority list and avoid further litigation between the respective parties.


Anyone see a common theme here?