Originally Posted by YAKflyer

So I'm unclear, are you agreeing with me that DL is playing different regionals against each other (whipsawing) to get the lowest bottom price, or are you saying JA is not affected by the pressure that just got Mesa 15 CRJ-900's and XJT the LAX flying? BTW Delta is not the only major playing this game, look at XJT's 69 airplanes they took out of CO service and ACA resigning UA to become Indy Air and ultimately out of business not to mention the mess at Northwest.

Originally Posted by JetJock16

JA is not feeling the type of pressure you're talking about, yet. His flying is as safe as any flying in this industry can be, at least for the next 7-13 years. For that reason he's feeling more pressure to just get caught up and do a little house keeping. As I said we're seriously short FO's and have a few ducks running loose that need to be brought back in line. We have as much flying as we can handle, anymore and we'll be canceling a lot of flights. So why would you agree to depart for a "fee" when there's no way you can depart.

Originally Posted by Airsupport

he has started the house cleaning thats for sure. They just fired the head of the training department in atlanta,, he had been there for more than 25 years!! of course you cant just up and fire someone the way they did, so they had to bring him back till he could find a new job (skywest was about to get their a** handed to them in a lawsuit)

Originally Posted by JetJock16

In Mgmnt, if you don't preform you get hacked. That's what's about to happen over at ASA. Just like a good hair cut, "I'll take a little off the sides and trim up the top, please."

Originally Posted by rjboy

Stickwiggler. Your response provides the perfect example of why date of hire is stupid. You never know who it will be on the bottom of the list. Your example works out with the inexperienced pilot going to the bottom but it could just as easily go the other way. Skywest has recently hired a couple of Delta pilots who retired early and needed to make some more money after they lost their pensions. In a date of hire merger they could lose some seniority. The point is in a DOH merger their are always people who win and lose and of course some selfish people will want that because they don't mind gaining at someone elses expense. In a % based merger everyone gets what they had before and that is what is right.

Originally Posted by JetJock16

I told you that both the %age based and the DOH mergers would both work out about the same for me, well I was wrong. I had my friend look at the ASA seniority list and it looks like I'd move up more with the DOH. BUT, I still feel that the %age based merger is fairer across the board. With it everyone keeps his/her current seniority, were as with the DOH some win and most lose.

Doesn't matter anyway because here's a best case senior for merger:

1) 2-4 months for ASA new TA to be approved.....................Month 4
2) JA mentions merger or labor groups.................................Month 5
3) 3-4 months for SKW union cards FLOOD in.......................Month 9
----ALPA wont agree to merger until SKW is ALPA. Its a $ thing and they want 2700+ more ways to make it.
4) NMB/Vote 2-4 months............................................ .....Month 12
5) 3-4 Months to establish a MEC......................................Month 16
6) Negotiations start for merger take 12 months...................Month 28
----12 is best case seeing US/HP merger
7) Actual merger takes place with 12-18 month fences……......Month 40

There you have it; 40-46 months before ASA pilots can effect SKW pilots. Like I said, I would win more with the DOH merger but I still think % is best for all. Just my opinion, I nor you will make this decision and I do know that DOH is ALPA’s policy.

If anyone knows the process better than I do I invite you to change my time frames.

P.S. I know that merging the two groups is best for the company but if JA even speaks the works we'll go union so fast it'll make his head spin. There’s no way we’d negotiate a merger with out legal representation, it’d be like committing suicide. If we didn't have representation I'm sure that we'd still end up DOH but with no fences and fences are needed. With out them our upgrade time would fall to 3+ years seeing that ASA is a more senior pilot group and would start filling our upgrade slots.

Originally Posted by JetJock16

JA is not feeling the type of pressure you're talking about, yet. His flying is as safe as any flying in this industry can be, at least for the next 7-13 years. For that reason he's feeling more pressure to just get caught up and do a little house keeping. As I said we're seriously short FO's and have a few ducks running loose that need to be brought back in line. We have as much flying as we can handle, anymore and we'll be canceling a lot of flights. So why would you agree to depart for a "fee" when there's no way you can depart.

Originally Posted by stickwiggler

I found the person in our crew lounge yesterday which supports my case exactly. She was hired in 03 and was "the plug" on our list for nearly 3 years, we have started hiring again in late 05 and have been spuratic until a few months ago when we started hiring at high rates. She now has about 200 people behind her after almost four years of seniority.

Originally Posted by JetJock16

I was with my ASA friend yesterday so I asked him how many pilots were behind him on the list, I wanted to know exactly. He checked and said the new numbers haven't come out yet but it about 230+ at this moment. He currently holds a line in ATL and he's hire date is May 22, 2006. Things aren't adding up and my friend doesn't exaggerate. Hard core Ex-Mil.