The issuance of a single seniority list triggers a lot of activity related to systems integration work, especially related to pilot scheduling. Understandably you are interested to know what happens next. This week, as you are aware, we very quickly began sending out recall letters to our L-UAL furloughed pilots for class dates starting in October and through the rest of the year. This will help support our staffing needs as we plan for next year's post- FAR117 world. Toward the end of September you will see a vacancy bid, which is a significant milestone for the pilot group. It's the first time you will be bidding as one group, using the same system. You will see more information about that vacancy bid process, as well as detailed instructions on how to make your selections in CCS, very soon. I believe you will find this process to be very intuitive; however, if you need help, we'll have your bases and all our support lines well educated on this process in order to be able to help you. From there, around October 1, L-UAL Pilots will begin learning the L-CAL PBS bidding system. We'll undergo some "mock bidding" in October and November to help familiarize those who are new to this system.

As we move forward with all of this activity, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of using CCS. As of September 1, L-UAL pilots are now also required to login to CCS to read and sign off on your pilot bulletins and view other important communications. I know that most of you are doing this, and the few who aren't have probably not been flying these past few days, but it's very important that we make it a habit in our daily work. We will publish a lot of important information via CCS in the coming months, and I want everyone to stay updated on our fast-moving effort to complete the integration of our Flight Operations organization. Also look for a "One United" section on our Flying Together intranet site in the coming days.

 

There you go with your one side thinking again. You probably don't know that we had 2005 upgrades in 2007. Yes, guys were upgrading with 2.5 years. It all stopped after age 65 passed and then the recession hit, hence the furloughs and downgrades. Once the recession was over and retirements started again, the upgrades continued and had very little to do with the merger.

Whatever, I'm not going to convince you otherwise, but to anyone else out there with an open mind in no way were the CAL pilots taking advantage of the merger and hogging the upgrades. The upward movement would have happened either way.

 

And you'll go to live bidding for your December schedule? Have fun.

 

You are a piece of work! I'm glad the process is over and most pilots on both sides are somewhat sensitive to what people are going through on BOTH SIDES!! To YOU only!! I now know what the "J" stands for in jsled relative to me, "JUNIOR"!!

 

Many a CAL pilot on here has complained about their PBS system; our union says the only problem with it was the parameters.

I'm a little bit afraid, but maybe all the senior old timers on my fleet will be so confused that I'll get a great line.

 

I can sum it up just like the isl award from your view point. If you ask for too much (cal) you will get burnt. If you ask for what you perceive is fair (UAL) you will get burnt. In the end the arbitrator (pbs) will give you what it wants and not based on seniority, longevity, or unicorns.

That's it in a nutshell. Great system. Company loves it.

 

Seriously, this is the problem. How can you say this with a straight face? When did these two events occur? They occurred post merger at a time when the merged companies were operating as one. You nor I can never know how the individual companies would have fared alone because that wasn't reality and to claim that all the growth was coming regardless is simply false. I believe that you and other Continental pilots truly believe this line of thinking and THAT is the single biggest detriment to future unity. Consider this. Independent arbitrators who have worked integrations for decades and seen every argument in history determined that the future of Continental was just as cloudy as the future of United. They have ZERO incentive to prefer one group over another and if you genuinely understand the ALPA merger policy, it's history, and how it was applied in this case then you will see that the arbitrators were whollly independent in their thinking.

If that whole argument escapes you and gives you no reason for pause then all I can say is it will be a long, long career for all of us.

 

Why, specifically, does the Company love it?

Is it the equivalent of "Continental Blend" vs. Starbucks?

 

Don't lump us all in Sunvox. Everybody needs to try in stand in the other mans shoes. Perspective is a powerful tool. I've been talking to a few CAL folks that aren't upset about the award. Unity has to be the solution for our future.

 

Joe,

No need to argue this. We already settled this with the arbitrators who decided you were right. I even think I saw your name in the decision.

You'll NEVER stop hearing their tale of woe.

Go have some beers mang.

LAX