Keenster,

Thanks for your good wishes. Most of us have found early retirement to be far more enjoyable than we anticipated, even with a reduced income.
If you guys can obtain a "senior pilot buyout" from management, the SLI will be fairly easy and everyone will benefit. They can find the money if they are sufficiently motivated. Best of luck!

Well, guess you missed my tounge in cheek. No, I don't want your seat and I sure don't think I should bump any Delta guy. As I said in another thread, we both need to step back and note that we are both being spun to a certain extent. The truth behind what is coming out of BOTH or MECs is somewhere between (note I didn't say middle).

As to an arbritrator.......the best line I heard at my road show was somebody said, "the arbritrators who are available are last ones you want". I think we both need to avoid it because it is a complete loss of control. Also, since I suspect it would be a whole new ball game, both our strategies would change somewhat.

Ok, enough of being serious. People who know me will tell you I'm never serious.......ok maybe on short final.

Ferd

Dang it Scoop, you've always got me doing the buying! I'm going to need this pay raise just to afford your bar tab!

Carl

I think you need to be careful about trying to plan for every possible contingency. In my opinion, accounting for a "next merger" is a way to frustrate people into submission. We did that back in 1987 with the NWA/Republic SLI. Both sides ran their computer models out with every possible scenario, and the other side would say: "yeah but....." Finally the arbitrator didn't listen completely to either side, and picked Date of Hire with conditions and restrictions - as is the case with most arbitrated SLI's.

I've said this before, but it bears repeating - DAL and NWA should fight hard against conditions and restrictions (fences). Why? Because the words involved in conditions and restrictions can be interpreted and thus arbitrated after the fact, the seniority numbers cannot. In our case, we've had 20 years worth of arbitrating what the meaning of the word "is" is, and not one about changing anyone's seniority number. This is the cause of the angst over time. We're not going to be able to negotiate a perfect solution, but we should try not to frustrate the process by unending "what ifs" and "yeah buts." If we do frustrate the process and go to an arbitrator, I can guarantee the solution will be imperfect.

Carl

I just hope we all have someplace to retire, and the means with which to do so. I don't like the trend. I wish I could just pick up the USA Today once and not see a headline about mergers, terrorism, green house warming, airline bankruptcies, or the price of oil. I'd prefer not to know how much our CEO's are making either.
If not in the top few hundred of the combined list, everyone's 'new' seniority number will be enough to to make 'em hurl. But a 'real man' gets back up and keeps drinking, right...

Well said, as he gets off the floor and back on the bar stool. Oh, and an old news editor line (which the USA Today follows) "If it bleeds it leads".

Ferd

They said the same thing at one of the ATL roadshows. It was said that the arbitrators are all in their 70s or early 80s so they wouldn't live long enough to see the effects of their decisions.

Carl....

Someone has to stir the pot a little. Folks were starting to get a little too friendly.

However, I will acquiesce to the wisdom of the Assistant Greenskeeper.
Pot-stirring withdrawn.

I can't wait to fly with this well-adjusted, team-oriented, content individual.

Now that's the pot calling the kettle black