RoughLandings

That is probably the smartest thing I've heard on this forum in a while. That would be the quickest and easiest way to start getting flying shifted back to mainline, while bolstering the scope clause (no more special exceptions). Its just that there are many NWA guys who seem to be too angry with Compass pilots to ever see that it would be beneficial to everyone.

alfaromeo

Why are NWA guys angry at Compass pilots?

RoughLandings

Just what I've heard from jumpseating on NW and CP.

capncrunch

As an NWA pilot, I have no animosity towards CP pilots and would like to see that entire airline under the mainline umbrella. Stapled, of course.

RoughLandings

I wholeheartedly agree. In no way did I mean that all NW pilots are angry with Compass pilots, just that the sentiment is out there. As a CP pilot, I fully agree with a staple (it should not be done any other way), so that the end result is more flying done by mainline. It is definitely nice to know that there are many that agree. Either way, though, it is good that the new JCBA stayed strong on scope.

freightguy

Ditto. I am another NW pilot and have no animosity whatsoever to the Compass group. I too would like to see the entire Compass operation stapled to the mainline.

Ferd149

I agree with putting the Compass folks in with us and I agree we need to staple the list now while it is still small. Now, that said, what do we do with Mesaba. I would argue staple too but there are several "senior" capts there (I jumpseat them now that where I live has gone mostly RJ). Maybe more of a fight? Oh, and then what to do with Comair?

I would argue add them all in with a stapled list but then standby for the RJDC.

Ferd

Carl Spackler

I don't hold any hard feelings for Compass pilots either. But stapling them would have to be agreed to in writing prior to any kind of operational combining. It's been my experience that people who readily agree to be stapled, change their minds dramatically after the combination and sue to get themselves inserted into the seniority list by DOH or some other fashion besides stapling.

If there is a prior agreement, and a waiving of any right to sue - then staple away.

Carl

Ferd149

Carl,

Dead on, and why I think it will unravel when Mesaba yells "what about us". I doubt the upper 1/3 of the Mesaba list would agree to a staple.

Ferd

NuGuy

Heyas Ferd,

This is always the tricky part. I speak as a former "commuter guy", and I'm pretty familiar with this group of folks (senior "regional").

There are generally 3 kinds of guys who are in that position:

1) The guy who never wanted to leave. I saw this a lot of PDT. Many were ex-mil, and wanted to work where they lived.

2) The guy who couldn't leave for whatever reason, such as DUI(s), a string a busted rides, whatever.

3) The guy who wouldn't leave. The guys who fall into this category are those who wouldn't accept the 1st year pay cut, or figured a "flow through" will happen "any day now", or perhaps is waiting to sue himself on to a list.

Compass is a no-brainer. Wholly owned, with a bilateral flowthrough that was in place before the first Compass guy was hired. EVERYONE at Compass knew the score before taking the job.

Mesaba is tricker. They've been only wholly owned a short while. They've been around a LONG time, with a hefty number of senior "lifers" that may not have even wanted to go to NWA.

What we COULD do is offer them up a staple. HOWEVER, a guy could have the option to declare a "XJ rights", where he could maintain his relative seniority on his current (or replacement) equipment. Throw in some longevity credit for non-rev and few other items and call it done. As people bid out of the category in front of him, he'd get to enjoy some upward movement, and would be basically displacement-proof.


IMHO, this well has been somewhat spoiled by the RJDC nonsense, but this would "buy out" all but the most hard core types.

Nu