ClipperJet

Not trying to start a cat-fight on the forum (although I must reluctantly admit I do rather enjoy them more than I probably should...)

What's the latest on the list integration, arbitration, lawsuits, and overall mayhem on the merger? Haven't heard anything in a while....

captfred

Seniority list finalized 2 years ago with the Nicholai arbitration decision. It can not be used until a new pilot contract is signed. Unfortunately the company and the union prefer separate ops so the merger will not be completed for many years. We are 5 years in and it will be another 5 in my opinion.

jsled

You guys need to git er done so you can be ready for the UAL/CAL/AAA three way that is coming.

Dashdog

I give this thread one page...

cactusmike

No flaming from me...just the facts.

Like Fred said, separate ops until the joint contract is final. With the East capturing the attritition from retirements and the little expanded flying that has come their way there isn't much incentive for the Angry F/O Club to do anything about negotiating in earnest. Judge Wake may have something to say about the obligations of USAPA to negotiate for both sides but it will take a while for it to sink in to the East that they are losing over $25000 per year due to their LOA 93 lower payscale along with workrules that are commuter airline equivalent.

The East had counted on LOA 93 wages snapping back this January - that did not happen because they had never put in that language in LOA 93. They thought Seeham (their attorneys) would be able to overturn the Nicolau award and redo the seniority list - that did not happen either. Who knows when they will be ready to get this over with? I'm not holding my breath. I do know that we are in deep danger of being left out altogether because the rest of the industry rightly sees US Airways East as a cancer to their labor groups.

pilotkitch

"I do know that we are in deep danger of being left out altogether because the rest of the industry rightly sees US Airways East as a cancer to their labor groups."

Why are they a cancer? It couldn't be because they refuse to sign an agreement that will put guys in the left seat of there aircraft that were in high school when they already had a seniority number...

alfaromeo

There was a duty of fair representation case (DFR) brought by the West pilots. They won the case and USAPA has a permanent injunction prohibiting them from negotiating anything other than the Nicolau arbitration award list. USAPA has appealed to the Ninth Circuit to overturn the case. Their only hope is that case was brought too soon, as USAPA had merely proposed the date of hire list and the negotiations had not concluded.

The East pilots are hoping that some vague language in their second bankruptcy agreement allows them to snap back to what would be near industry leading rates. The language seems to clearly favor LCC management, but USAPA is taking a shot. That would give tremendous raises to the East pilots only.

The company is waiting until the legal cases are solved until they will seriously negotiate with USAPA. At some point the legal cases will be solved and then negotiations will continue. If they can come to an agreement, there will be a vote on a joint contract and if it passes they will be one group. Despite some people's assurances, no one knows what will pass and what won't.

The real wild card is the financial condition of LCC, which is extremely shaky. They have several debt covenants, one of which they have breached but are being allowed to slide for now. If they get called in, then the bleeding will turn into a gusher. Management just wants to sell out the airline to someone else, but they have no real hopes now for a buyer. Management is hoping that the improving economy will give them some breathing room until they can sell out.

Fishfreighter

Or perhaps it was because they agreed to binding arbitration and when it didn't go their way, they acted like a bunch of petulant children. They decertified ALPA and formed the toothless wonder called USAPA.

Remember: THEY agreed to binding arbitration in advance. I'd say they deserve to lose $25k a year each. Hope its worth it.

pilotkitch

Good point! Pilots will be pilots, they will let someone else do the fighting then complain about the outcome. Cant make em all happy...

CVG767A

I, among other Delta guys, was against the USAir/Delta merger at least in part because of the East guys' efforts to evade binding arbitration. I would guess that many of the United guys were against it for the same reason.