Seniority List Petition
 

Just came across this petition today....

Not sure its going to have much effect if it gets enough votes.

http://www.change.org/petitions/air-...e-isl-proposal

Looks like an exercise in futility to me.

Once created by the MEC and provided direction, the Merger Committee is autonomous from the MEC for the very reason of elimination of political pressure from petitions such as this.

The pilots that are the most shocked by the process, and the result, are undoubtedly the same ones that ignored their LEC elections thinking "ALPA" was some external body and not themselves.

Boy howdy!!...

To quote a satirical strip from my long-gone youth...I believe "Pogo" said it best, "We have met the enemy, and he is us."

Other than a lack of common sense and objectivity, I don't believe a truer statement exists describing airline pilots...and I willingly r one.

I find the first comment at the bottom of the page of that petition interesting:

This pilot is not LOSING LONGEVITY. His longevity is being used (or considered at any rate) under the ALPA merger policy to determine his new SENIORITY at the combined company. Granted, that new seniority will determine what he can bid and hold and therefore what pay rate he makes, but he will still be a 13 year pilot. Looked at in another way: is his 6 year longevity friend from CAL getting 13 year longevity in the new seniority list? No.

It wont have any effect.

Your merger committee knows the indisputable facts put forth by the LCAL merger committee, and the LUAL best hope proposal reflects as such...Very telling of the LUAL merger committee expectations...It is what it is

You aren't a student of history, are you? When the LUAL lawyer argued the America West and Delta lists, he employed the same tactic: put forth a list that is realistic and can be defended in court.... NOT a "best hope" proposal. Katz went for the grand slam home run proposal for USAirways and NWA. Lost both badly. We will see how it turns out here, but the LUAL list is absolutely NOT a best hope proposal. If the "indisputable facts" put forth by the LCAL side drove the one-for-one and then staple moonshot, then you are in for a serious surprise. Apply that logic to a merger with Alaska and let me know if it still makes sense.

I see...then why the petition? I think we will see new history in this scenario. Good luck to you in any case.

My experience talking to UA pilots upset with this proposal is that they are falling for the fallacy that this is a negotiation or a bid, where you should ask for what you want, you might get it.

But the time is coming shortly where the arbitrators will ask for input from both sides on the actual structure of the list. And they won't be asking for W2s, retirement plans, grievance lists, CEO hearsay/testimony, SEC filings, number of winglets, etc.

The side that can defend its input based on career expectations, status and category, and longevity in a fair way to both sides to a greater degree will influence the final outcome more.


In regard to UA pilots being mad about the UA proposal; free beer to the first to answer this riddle:

What do you get when both sides are upset with the result?

I will take a stab at that, I think you will get a mess of an airline with a disfuntional work force in a race to bankruptcy. Hey but you were fair at least. Best of luck.

1 happy pilot...who then find something to be ****ed about.