Hey Diver, or anyone else who is interested in Mesaba. I'm a Comair guy with 1.5 yrs of senioroity at Comair (May 2007 hire). It was a very tough decision for me but I'm pretty sure I'm heading to Mesaba. Its a much younger company, unlike Comair and everyone there is at Mesaba to get their time and leave (unlike Comair). I think you'll see upgrade at Mesaba before Comair. Anyone who wants info on the interview let me know.

 

It seems that you guys are in a very tough situation. Here is my take on this chess game they are playing. Right now you have seniority at Comair and you may be willing to give that up to go over to Mesaba. Mesaba looks nice now, because there is movement over there. I see that just like SJS and I wouldn't take the bait. Comair's contract is open for negotiations next year, so don't think for a minute that the Comair guys won't be fighting snapbacks from the BK as well as getting back what we have lost since 2005. I would be hard pressed to give up any kind of seniority over 6 months right now with everything that is going on. Let's say Comair, Compass, Mesaba, or Pinnacle get merged. On a date of hire seniority integration, you would be giving up your 6 months to a year and a half of seniority. Now if you stay, you will have seniority over everyone that is getting on with Mesaba right now. I just think there is too much risk invovled when you could keep your number right now and get a non-flying job in the meantime. You would most likely enjoy your QOL waiting for a recall as well.

 

Turbo do agree with your philosphy and under normal circumstances I would tend to stay away or steer someone from a lateral move. However, and just my opinion, it will be tough to fight back during contract negotiations when we have no airline. I firmly believe based on past history, the trends, movement in management and GO, and lasttly what I have been unofficially told we will not be operating as a flight airline. At best it will be a very very senior group which not even my 8 years would suffice. 1.5 years seniority, I would favor leaving at best just because of the relationship and treatment of this airline on its employee's. This being my third airline, it is by far the worst in faulty leadership and stability including QOL. Just my ten cents, good luck to everyone on whatever they decide. One side note, JS even mentions that many questions are still unanswered on comair in lite of the merger...read between the lines.

 

Show me an ALPA merger where guys on the street got DOH over guys currently on the line. Ill give you a hint. There arent any. If he went to Mesaba and we merged all the carriers tomorrow he would be ahead of everyone on comairs seniority list that is currently furloughed.

 

hey comair guys, I don't work at Mesaba but if you can, maybe hold off until the actual announcements are made. That way incase anything crazy happens you already have a job. Remember your company just hired until they furloughed, not saying that is going to happen at Mesaba, but there is a chance. If Mesaba makes the announcement that they are growing like crazy, they will need pilots bad and you wont give up too much seniority by waiting to make sure it is going to happen. Good luck whatever you do

 

What make you think that Mesaba would be ahead of everyone at Comair. do you think they would staple Comair to the bottom of Mesaba's list? It would never happen. It wouldn't matter if you are furloughed. Even on furlough you retain your seniority number. Seniority is Seniority. Like the last guy said too, you saw how fast Comair was hiring to turn around and furlough. The same can happen at Mesaba. I honestly think it could be a chess move to get guys with 1 year seniority at one airline to start over again. It buys Big Daddy D another year of low paid first year pilots. Cost savings. Delta hires some of the best bean counters around.

 

whoa... re read everyones post. I said he would be ahead of everyone on comairs seniority list that is currently on furlough. The guy you quoted was giving up his seniority number with comair because he is being furloughed. Then you mentioned a DOH integration. If he was to be furloughed by comair and hired by mesaba and then merged he would be ahead of anyone at comair who is still furloughed!

Go through every single ALPA merger. No one who is furloughed at time of merger is ever ahead of anyone at the other company who is currently online. Never!

 

I must be confused (or wrong). Correct me if I'm wrong here, but just because you are furloughed, does NOT mean you "give up" your seniority. When you are recalled, you snap back just as if you were always on property with the same seniority that you had when you left.

Getting a job with another carrier while on furlough does not force you to "give up your seniority" either. For example, getting furloughed from Comair you get hired at Mesaba. If Comair starts recalling, you have the option to return or not. If your seniority is higher at Mesaba, you probably would opt to not return. If your seniority would be higher back at Comair, you would probably opt to come back.

Again, correct me if I'm wrong, but just because you are furloughed doesn't mean you lose your seniority.

 

Completely false. Ask any of the comair guys going to Mesaba. Mesaba forces them to resign from any other airline. Giving up their seniority and recall rights.

 

Ah, I didn't realize Mesaba forces you to. However, it is still my understanding that some don't require you to.