And how is this an advantage for RAH? I agree this is a hugh disadvantage for both Midwest and Lynx, but I see the biggest advantage is for Frontier. They benefit by preventing intergration over the short haul. Eventually some F9 pilots will be below RAH pilots, just as some RAH will be below F9. Not to mention the MW and Lynx will be intergrated throughout the list.

This delay only hurts RAH because contract talks will not resume until the SLI is complete. A much overdue CBA is needed. The majority of the planes that RAH operates were not even on property when the last contract was written.

It is not the RAH group who is dragging out the process. One of the other three groups are delaying by having very long cross exams.

In my opinion the SLI needs to be completed, followed by a vote to decide what union will represent, then the group as a whole can go to contract talks. A contract written now will be worthless as many restrictions (fences etc...) will be determined by the arbitrator. Write the contract with those included.

 

I appreciate your offer, but no thanks. The longer this SLI drags on, the longer Midwest pilots are out of work. The longer it takes until we get a new contract. The longer we fly 190's for garbage pay rates and the better the opportunity for F9 to really get farmed out. You really have no concept of reality in the airline industry, as evidenced by your frequent posts of uneducated ramblings. There are no "witnesses" that need to be interviewed. This SLI process has taken long enough. There has been plenty of time for FAPA to present their case. This is a purposeful attempt to keep F9 separate and undermine the scope clause that the IBT has in place.

No good can come from keeping F9 on a separate list. None what so ever. Any delusions one might have about keeping the Airbus flying away from the RAH seniority list is just that - a delusion. F9 can stay on a separate list, and any reasonable pilot with a knowledge of the history of this industry can predict that Republic will be used to slowly destroy F9. Why keep F9 pilots flying the Airbus when cheap labor is just a click away. It's called a whipsaw, and if you think RAH management isn't capable of that, lets recall how the Republic certificate started. Any new aircraft will go the Republic certificate because it's cheaper.

One can understand being an F9 pilot and not wanting to merge seniority lists with a "Regional" airline, but mark my words - with no merger, they will sign the fate of their career over to a mode of self destruction. They are the more expensive labor group, they will not win. The only positive scenario is a fair and equitable integration, strength for a strong employment contract and job protection through a scope clause. Dragging this SLI out is hurting all of the parties involved and doing nothing but make RAH management smile.

We want a fair intergration, but if F9 feels their best interest in to be a separate list, then you might as well break out the stapler, because its going to get ugly. The IBT has yet to lose a scope arbitration, and thanks to their rock solid contract language, they won't lose this one either. Whose to say what outcome will lie in store for F9.

 

Each side presents witnesses (airline analysts, financial experts, etc.) who justify the position of each union. Those witnesses are then cross examined by representatives from the other parties. That is straight from the mouth of an integration committee participant.

FAPA did question RAH's experts for a seemingly long time during the first week, but I honestly would expect them to. They have everything to lose and little to gain outside of keeping their current jobs. Midwest, RAH, and to some degree Lynx, are all presenting cases that aim to provide their pilots with the quickest possible access to the highest paying equipment (the Airbus). FAPA would be foolish not to try to undermine every single witness who presents a case contradictory to their own. That takes time, but it is what we would all expect our leadership to do if we held the relative high ground. Midwest pilots and a growing number of Lynx pilots are losing out, but their time and energy now could pay off dividends in a few months. I don't hear Midwest pilots grumbling about the arbitration process. They understand how the process works. They don't keep digging up Staplers.

 

Looks like FAPA is challenging there being any intergration at all. Going to be a long drawn out nasty fight. Big losers will be YX and Lynx pilots watching from the sidelines.

 

Rightseat ballast... i think your wrong. I think the frontier pilots have a lot to lose as well. If they keep things separate, in 3 years the airbuses will be going away and the c3000s will be headed to the republic certificate. Bedford will whipsaw each side against each other and we will all end up out of jobs. Intentionally delaying the SLI is idiotic and will be detrimental to all of our careers.

 

Why in the world is the ibt delaying the current section 6 negotiations?! Even if sli decision occurred tomorrow the rah cba will remain in effect for years during status quo period. You should speed ip, not slow down!

 

I really don't mind being wrong, I promise, but I did say that Frontier pilots have everything to lose and little to gain. However, thoroughly stating their case in front of the arbitrator is a reasonable expectation, as it can go a long way to stop losses at the hand of the arbitrator.

 

In order to proceed with negotiations, the IBT needs to have a starting point. Right now, the next step after SLI is contract amalgamation, or the combining of the various labor contracts into one cohesive document. If the combined contract gives us duty rigs or better reserve rules, or increases our days off, etc, then why waste our negotiating capital on those items now? How can we work on pay if we aren't sure exactly how every position is compensated? I agree the IBT needs to be aggressive once the contract gets sorted out after SLI, but until I feel waiting is the best course. It also gives our negotiating committee time to better understand the new way of business, and how we as pilots can turn this shift in revenue into a major improvement in our QOL.

 

At least RightSeatBallast sees the light here. Some people claimed all the RAH pilots were just licking their collective chops at flying the Airbus and relegating those "Frontier" pilots back to regional jets. You sir, along with Airdale and others, are truly myopic in thinking Frontier would not fight tooth and nail to keep their current positions and current pay. I expect nothing less of them. They already left "regional" careers, gave up their seniority and moved on to a better career goal in Frontier. Just because RAH bought them some people EXPECT them to go backwards in career expectations? Seriously? And one of the requirements of obtaining an ATP certificate is exercising good judgement?

I would like to make an equally preposterous suggestion. Maybe the Frontier guys will take a date of hire integration. Just give them the date of hire at the regional they left to fly at Frontier. If we are going to use regional seniority at one company, why not use it at all? Midwest pilots too for that matter. Some of those pilots at both places were hired at their previous employer 20 years ago. Let's give them 20 years seniority.

No good? Then try not to act suprised and indignant about Frontier pilots fighting for their jobs. I would have expected nothing less. If the SLI shafts the Frontier guys, some of those at RAH will be praying for a Midwest pilot for the next month's pairing. For historical reference, think the United strike and pilots who walked vs. pilots who crossed flying together in the late 80's. The FAA threatened to get involved because of the cockpit hostility shown between pilots. Cockpits are small places. Better to be friendly. Safer too.

 

From an outside perspective, you are assuming a number of things that remain to be determined.

1. Ibt may not be the bargaining unit.
2. The republic holdings carriers may not be deemed a single carrier.
3. If all of the above happen, we all would be better off if the ibt had a new and imroved cba to "combine".

In short, sitting on your current pos cba is not a good idea.