aa73

Don't forget to include SWA and DAL's "un integrations."

While AA's was the most recent, "un integrations" have happened before. Granted, AA's was of the largest scale, which is what prompted this legislation.

I think that binding neutral arbitration is the fairest way to go.... but in our case, they need to make sure that TWA folks at the bottom keep their original TWA DOH if we do merge. Otherwise they will be dealt a double whammy.

73

ClipperJet

I think the real "unfortunate outcome from an otherwise well meaning piece of legislation" is that airlines will be reluctant buy or merge if the integration issues are too difficult. Especially if the US Air East guys end up “burning down the house” in disappointment over the arbitration. (I understand they were really upset some time ago, but haven’t heard much lately…)

It’d be much easier to a.) Let the company fail and buy assets at the firesale, or b.) Cherry-pick the valuable parts of the company one at a time, staying below the 50% margin.

There will always, ALWAYS, be loopholes for the management to get around any law that will prevent them from making money.

(Remember, McCain-Feingold was going to “get money out of politics” once and for all.)

Xray678

when did DAL have an "unintegration"?

aa73

Pan Am, 1991.

Only qualified A310/B727 flight crews were taken and integrated around 1:8... everyone else, including the most senior 747 CAs, were shown the door.

Xray678

So are you saying even though Delta only bought the 310s and a small number of 727s, they should have integrated all the Pan Am pilots? If you only buy those two aircraft, how else would you do it but take along the crews who are qualified to fly them?

ToiletDuck

So back to an example question. If Skybus was ALPA and your airline purchased them, you're on the edge of upgrading, do you think it's right that you lose a seniority spot at an airline you've spent time with because someone else was a captain at a previous airline that was purchased? I don't wish ill will on anyone however their company was sinking for a reason. Those pilots would have been without a job no matter how you slice it. I don't think I should get moved back a few steps because they were willing to gamble and go work for a place with the lowest standards of living and lowest pay around. The guy who's done it by the book and waited for his turn could end up getting shafted.

This could also screw the pilots more. If a company is bleeding money why should I bother buying them and going through all the pains of dealing with the labor when I could wait a little longer and watch them go broke then just slide into the open airport and take over?

Oldfreightdawg

This pretty much comes from the APA BOD after a breifing on the passage of this legislation:

Quick story....APFA Prez Huto Blake (sp) has a remorse for F'ing the TWA F/As; has a meeting with the Missouri Senators explaining that before she leaves office she wants to fix the wrongs of the past. So, she comes up with the Missouri compromise, which is basically the ALPA merger policy. ALPA hears about this and finds an opportunity to discourage unsatisfied ALPA team members-read USAir East-from leaving. ALPA figured out that with this new "law" there is no benefit to leave ALPA and go it alone, for Example APA. Now every airline employee is covered by the Allegany-Mohawk merger provisions. The A/M provision state that if two parties can't figure out how to merge the seniority list then it goes to binding arbitration.


Now comes the ATA, Aircon and all the other airlines that see an opportunity to smooth out the labor merger issue and make it easier for airline consolidation. Poof you have a new law that was attached to the omnibus bill at the end of 2007


This is worse for the junior guys than age 65, IMHO

Xray678

I have never cared if a pilot from another airline is merged in senior to me as long as the job they bring to the table is senior to me. And considering future progression, I think a Skybus captain in your example, would be fenced off Delta's widebody equipment for long, long time.

jsled

A. Preserve jobs
B. No windfalls
C. Maintain same or better pay
D. Maintain same or better status
E. Preserve career expectations.

ToiletDuck

Fenced off how? This legislation takes a little of that power away.