TSioux55

They'll always be asking for concessions!!!! I lost all faith from the folks at Non Caring a long time ago. Like I said earlier, we aren't getting anything anytime soon. And what cracks me up is the fact that we have certain people in the respective pilot groups working on senority list integration; I want to run up to them and say, "Hey, stop wasting your time!!!! Until we get a JCBA, which we won't, we can't integrate."

We keep getting e-mails from the union saying that we've got this, that, and whatever else T'Ad. Yeah, well it's none of the important stuff. The union isn't going to back down (hopefully) and the company won't budge, because they ALWAYS seem to have a Plan B. So we're stuck. Don't worry though this wonderful lady that the hero at the White House put in on the NMB is going to save us all!!!! Here's your CHANGE!!!!

The Juice

The work being done now on SLI is simply seniority list validation at each airline. Any pilots hired after July 1, 2010 will be added to the joint list based on DOH (protocol agreement). It is important that each airline have a validated seniority list so that when a TA is reached the Merger Committees can begin direct negotiations. If they did not develop the validated lists now it would take a few months of work after a TA is reached just to get to the point to begin negotiations. It does not hurt anyone to be proactive if a TA is reached and have the lists ready to go.

Plus there are other issues the Merger Committees are dealing with, like selecting an arbitrator. ALPA National will give the committees' a list of arbitrators and they have to be researched and one has to be chosen by all 3 airline merger committees. You can just throw a dart on the way and whatever name it lands on, thats your arbitrator. It is a serious decision and one that requires time to research.

I just find it shocking that it "cracks you up" that you have pilots at your airline volunteering for the thankless job that is SLI and working to ensure the process is as accurate and as fair as possible? If everyone sat around with your pessimistic "whoa is me" attitude nothing would ever get done.

ebl14

Maybe someone can answer this question for me.

What happens if the JCBA never happens by Nov 15th? Will these lists still be used if the JCBA happens a year from now? Here is my concern... If the JCBA process takes 6 months to a year we will be operating as seperate airlines. As seperate airlines Mesaba will probably still lose thier saabs as previously planned and have to furlough at least 400 pilots. Will those pilots still be integrated with those of us at 9E and 9L who stayed on based on the list that is being put together right now?

Point being, Mesaba as a stand alone airline is most likely to shrink by a large margin if they aren't merged with Colgan who is supposed to grow in the near future with the added Q-400s. So if this JCBA doens't go down as planned there is going to be a very large problem on the horizon.

The Juice

I do not think Mesaba is in as much doom and gloom as you suggest. Their Saabs are being phased out in increments and it is my understanding that Delta has pushed back the phase out start date (Can Mesaba confirm?)

Plus, isn't Mesaba flows to begin shortly? Wont that offset some of the loss from the Saabs. And all this is assuming that those Saabs can not find new flying in new markets or Delta decided to maybe keep some/all of them. There is a lot to change.

I would not bank on "growth" on the Colgan side as the savior for Mesaba's problems. After these next 5 Q's to finish up the 15 there are no confirmed deliveries for any new aircraft, just unexercised options (15 of which have no interested mainline partner.) Also, Colgan is flying a fleet of aging Saabs that have a death clock ticking on them as well.

There will most likely be some sort of "fence" once the SLI is complete, how long will need to be negotiated. So if the options on future Q's are exercised it will not be as simple as a Mesaba Saab CA moves right on over to a CA slot at Colgan when/if their Saabs go away. All of this will be decided during SLI negotiations.

ebl14

As far as I understand, Mesaba will flow 103 pilots up. Why 103 you ask, well I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that the 103rd guy happens to be the MEC chair... correct me if I've been misinformed.

Anyhow, last I heard the projected number of total XJ pilots without the saabs was 600-700 down from ~1100 now. Maybe the phase out will be slower that first anticipated, but Delta has been clear about thier intention to get rid of the old props. Without movement to the majors plus the small amount of growth from Colgan how are we going to keep from furloughing if we are 400-500 fat? I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade, but I just haven't heard anyone talking about the real possibility of downsizing post-merger.

Will

Mesaba will flow a 108 pilots and no number 108 is not one of our MEC chairs.

jayray2

You totally missed the point of his/her post. He was pointing out that the Union is wasting resources on something he/she does not believe will happen anytime in the near future. I'm not saying I agree nor disagree with this attitude (although I do tend to think November 15th is a pipe dream) but you totally took the post and blew it out of proportion.

shiznit

9 pilots per month from the old agreement

over a theoretical 12 months yields the number 108....

Bartok

And most of the big items have already been TA'd once for 9E, I can't imagine it will take much to come to an agreement again close to those original numbers.

The biggest thing I see is a fair distribution of the retro pay for 9E guys.

You get that and some cleaning up of the language (which is what they are doing now), add pay from the 9E TA previously offered, and it's a done deal.

Avroman

Perhaps, but for me and many of us at Mesaba if we aren't getting our contract at least restored to pre-bankruptcy it's an easy NO vote. I will not be accepting a continuation of a concessionary contract even longer. If the company is understanding and open to that perhaps we can move quick. If they simply want to use this to further extend a concessionary contract, they might get a deal done by November 15..... 2020.