Pipe™ dreams. Have you had the chance to sample our product? Just an observation.

No JCBA required for the merger policy to be utilized. But I believe that is what's going to happen. Dixieland will merge via the policy with the L-train.

The new Xjet news
 

It's irrelevant. Here is what their contract says:

"1. Except as specifically provided in the Foreign National Letter of
Agreement, neither UAL, Inc., United Airlines, nor a successor,

assign, or subsidiary thereof (hereinafter referred to as the

“Company”), will, if such entity has a controlling interest, whether

acting individually or jointly with any of the above entities, conduct
any commercial flight operations of the type historically performed

by United Airlines Flight Attendants, unless it performs such work

with Flight Attendants on the United Airlines System Seniority
List. Such flying shall be performed in accordance with the terms

and conditions of the existing agreement or any other applicable

agreement or agreements between the Company and the Union.

2. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company agrees not to

establish or purchase an alter-ego airline in whole or in part.

3. Notwithstanding Paragraph 1. above, to the extent permitted by

law, the Company will recognize the Union as the exclusive

bargaining representative for the Flight Attendants on any

commuter airline (primary 135 carrier) which it establishes or

purchases in whole or in significant part. Upon recognition, the

Union and the Company agree to negotiate in a timely fashion a
competitive agreement no less favorable than area standard

contracts for similar flying operations."

1. None of the regional flying is of of the type historically performed by United Airlines Flight Attendants. At least not for over 20 years.

2. None of the UAX regionals are alter egos. At least not any more than Envoy/PDT/PSA are alter egos to American Airlines. Or Endeavor is to Delta Air Lines. Or Horizon is to Alaska Airlines.

3. None of the UAX regionals are commuter airlines (part 135).

To me it seems thats the FA contract a non-issue for UAL to buy a regional if that's what they want to do.

UA tried to buy AirW almost 20 yrs ago and lost in arbitration, the new AFA scope clause is even stronger...(my girlfriend is UA f/A and afa rep)



AFA FILES SUIT AGAINST UNITED AIRLINES
WASHINGTON, April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association of Flight



Attendants, AFL-CIO, filed suit last week against United Airlines, alleging a contract violation in connection with the recent Air Wisconsin acquisition. "Under the scope clause of our contract with United, all flying must be done by flight attendants on the United seniority list," explained A. Diane Tucker, president of AFA's Master Executive Council at United. "This situation should go to arbitration, allowing us to properly enforce our contract."
According to Tucker, the company has denied arbitration in this matter and refused to abide by the scope clause of the contract. A company reply to the AFA suit is due next month.
The largest flight attendant union in the world, the Association of Flight Attendants, AFL-CIO, represents more than 32,000 flight attendants at 20 different carriers, including both United Airlines and Air Wisconsin.
-0- 4/30/92
/CONTACT: David Melancon of the Association of Flight Attendants, 202-328-5400/ CO: Association of Flight Attendants, AFL-CIO; United Airlines; Air
Wisconsin ST: District of Columbia IN: AIR SU:

AFA FILES SUIT AGAINST UNITED AIRLINES
WASHINGTON, April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association of Flight



Attendants, AFL-CIO, filed suit last week against United Airlines, alleging a contract violation in connection with the recent Air Wisconsin acquisition. "Under the scope clause of our contract with United, all flying must be done by flight attendants on the United seniority list," explained A. Diane Tucker, president of AFA's Master Executive Council at United. "This situation should go to arbitration, allowing us to properly enforce our contract."
According to Tucker, the company has denied arbitration in this matter and refused to abide by the scope clause of the contract. A company reply to the AFA suit is due next month.
The largest flight attendant union in the world, the Association of Flight Attendants, AFL-CIO, represents more than 32,000 flight attendants at 20 different carriers, including both United Airlines and Air Wisconsin.

AFA Wins Lawsuit over United Scope Violation
by Gregory Polek
Oct 8, 2007 - 5:18 PM

After 10 years of litigation, a federal arbitrator awarded United Airlines flight attendants $8.89 million in connection with a claim by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) that United’s 1992 purchase of the original Air Wisconsin violated a so-called scope side letter in its collective-bargaining agreement. The scope clause, included in a flight-attendant contract signed by AFA and United in 1986, required the airline to use flight attendants from the mainline seniority list for all its wholly owned subsidiaries. When United bought Air Wisconsin in 1992, it chose to ignore the provision, sparking a protracted court battle that finally ended April 27.
When AFA issued its grievance, United initially refused to submit to arbitration, sending the issue to court. After United lost the case, the violation went before United’s grievance hearing board, which in 1998 issued a finding that the airline had, in fact, violated the contract.

This case goes back to 1992 for contract language written in 1986 when commuter (part 135) airlines were codesharing with mainline. Like I said in that post, no regional airline does flying historically done by UAL in at least the last 20 years. And certainly not exclusively either. But you guys are probably right that UAL would be gun shy to try to make the argument on current precedence. It's probably less costly to try negotiate something with the AFA instead, assuming they want to buy a regional to begin with.

Its the best bait ever. Management step 1. Spread UA buyout rumors, Step 2. Tell them they have to stay "competitive" Step 3. Sucker them into pay cuts. Step 4. Tell them thanks but sorry, who told you UA wanted to buy you...??...

Why would any major buy a regional - other than for recapitalization to keep the whip saw going?

Certainly not for SLI - that would entirely negate the cost advantage of the regional.

Yeah.. Nothing stronger than AFA scope protection... No way around it.

I would agree. Times are different now though. I think UAL has already made it clear they want a pathway for you guys.