Quote:
Originally Posted by mike734
No. As I've already demonstrated, Junior AWA FOs got a windfall. In 3-5 years they will be in the top 30% of the seniority list.
That said, the problem of seniority merger is a tough one.
Mike, I don't mean to start a message board fight, that's the last thing I want, but consider this: ALPA merger policy E. career expectations........AWA had 22 airplanes on order, in writing, US was turning them in. So the career expectation of the junior AWA FO was to have about 300 pilots below him after all deliveries. So the arbitrator's decision wasn't a windfall but in fact wasn't even fair to him because his career expectation was to have 300 active pilots underneath him instead of being last.
Second, looking at the birthdays of all the US pilots retiring between now and 2011....only 52% of the retirees are Captains. Retiring US FOs doesn't help the AW pilot group much, and retiring furloughees doesn't help the AW pilots at all. So it isn't a 4-1 ratio but more like a 2-1 ratio . Not to mention the move to age 65 which will help the US guys more.
Third, the 500 US pilots placed at the top will be a windfall for them because when the fence comes down they will be at the top of the list for all remaining bidding for their careers. The arbitrator should have fenced it, but not given them top-of-the-list seniority. And the arbitrator shouldn't have considered the widebody flying to be priviledged. If it were so good why did the seats for the 18 airplanes go the whole way down to seniority number 517? If it needed to be protected, why did it go so junior? Not to mention AW had widebodies (747s) so it wasn't like a new thing for AW.
Not meaning to start something, it's an emotional issue for sure. Just some thoughts I heard from a buddy that I thought pertains here.
Best wishes.