Xray678

Hmm, good question. As someone else said, if you were to ask a Delta pilot and a Northwest pilot what they think is fair you would get two different answers. I have an old Air Force buddy who is at NW. We have talked about it and we have way different ideas of what is fair.

That said, here goes. First I don't believe in DOH. I don't think it should be a factor in any merger, be it DL/NW or DL/JB. I think DL and NW are fairly similar companies. NW has bigger widebodies, we have more of them. NW has more short term retirements, we have more long term retirements. I think the balance of aircraft growth vs aircraft retirements is fairly close.

I think relative position is a good starting point with some adjustments from there. Keep in mind, I don't consider relative position to be a percentage. To me relative position means senior widebody captain on the NW list ends up in roughly the same position as a senior widebody captain on the DL list. I am a narrowbody captain who can hold the 767 and would be junior on the ER. I would expect to be on the combined list where my number could still hold the same thing. That should put me pretty close to NW pilots who arenarrow body captains that can hold the 757, and would maybe be a very junior widebody captain.

There will be problems created because you have a bunch of senior pilots who are former Republic that are still narrowbody captains, while we have some very junior pilots who are holding widebody because no one wants to be on reserve. Those are the kind of issues that will be tough and need to be addressed, but in a nutshell I think relative position by equipment.

Xray678

Wanted to add I think there have to be some fences. Short term (1-2 years) around the bases, longer term (3-5)around the equipment.

Superpilot92

Is this over yet?

willflyforcash

it might have been until you posted...

doh.. i just posted too! this thread will never end.

Superpilot92

I meant the merger

willflyforcash

hahah! my bad

Justdoinmyjob

What you are forgetting is that the MEC has no say in whether to accept or turn down a list. Once the negotiating starts on the SLI, it's all up to the negotiators. If they agree on a list, that's it. No one votes it up or down, membership or MEC. If they are unable to agree on a list, then they go back to the MEC and go to arbitration, but during the negotiation, the MEC stays out of it.

Xray678

That's not true. The merger committe is in daily contact with Lee and the MEC. Further, I would bet that as they get close to a deal on the list, Lee will actually be there, not in the room but right outside. But you are right. Once the merger committees agree to a list, it's done. There is no voting on it by anyone.

acl65pilot

And if anyone thinks that both MEC's will not be consulted right before the vote they are ignorant.

NGINEWHOISWHAT

Therein lies the problem. Talk about understatements ...