What is the timeline for SLI? Is it set in the MOU, and what are the triggers? It seems like this merger has been well planned out (at least by management) and is ready to go full on "synergy" much faster than Delta/NWA or CAL/United. Is the SLI process set up in a way to go swiftly after the merger is official?

10. a. A seniority integration process consistent with McCaskill-Bond shall begin as soon as possible
after the Effective Date. If, on the date ninety (90) days following the Effective Date, direct
negotiations have failed to result in a merged seniority list acceptable to the pilots at both airlines, a
panel of three neutral arbitrators will be designated within fifteen (15) days to resolve the dispute,
pursuant to the authority and requirements of McCaskill-Bond. That arbitration proceeding will
commence no later than 60 days after the designation of the arbitrators, or as soon thereafter as
practicable given the availability of the designated arbitrators, provided that it is understood that, in no
event, shall the seniority integration arbitration proceeding commence prior to final approval of the
JCBA pursuant to the deadlines and procedures in Paragraph 27 below. The panel of arbitrators will
render its award within six (6) months of the commencement of the arbitration, and in any event not
later than 24 months after the Effective Date.

So, there is a deadline 24 months after the effective date for the arbitrators to make a final decision, but the arbitration can't even begin until the final approval of the JCBA? What kind of timeline is there for the JCBA?

Is there a way for the larger group (APA) to pull a usapa?

I'm fairly certain that this is the reason the JCBA must be completed before the SLI is even arbitrated. The East/West list wasn't to be implemented until AFTER the JCBA. The lesson was learned and the last three big mergers have done it the way US/AA are about to.

This I can't cut and paste. From the USAPA "Flight Plan To Merger" it goes like this:

-POR=Effective date
-On Effective date USAPA, APA and AA start JCBA negotiations
-Within 4 months of Effective date a petition is made to NMB for single carrier status(will determine our union)
-Single carrier status expected within 6-8 months of effective date
-Within 30 days of single carrier determination, JCBA negotiations complete. If not complete a final and binding JCBA arbitration will be done within 90 days of single carrier determination.

So through all of that I come up with final JCBA within a year of POR, and max of final SLI three years from POR. The number I keep hearing is everything done in a little over two years from now.

The fly in the ointment. There is currently litigation ongoing between the west pilot through The Army of Leonidas and USAPA. As everyone well knows, neither side has shown any sign of backing down. Will this affect the above timeline? I have no idea, but suspect so.

It already is affecting the timeline, the APA has plans to petition immediatelly, everyone involved realizes usapa must go asap and have moved up certain merger targets in response.

USAPA isn't going away even when it is no longer the CBA. Sorry, but you are the ones that sued them.

Do you really want to pull out my list of CB failed predictions? Let's not pollute this thread, okay. I just put a note on the timeline.

Usapa isn't going away? You delusion shines thru. Usapa will cease to represent you and it will be illegal for them to do so with the money I paid them. I have no doubt they will try to keep our money and stay in business but we are ready for that.

I'm not going to do this on this thread. If you want to debate it, PM.