If NWA ALPA merges the lists, does any agreement made by XJ alpa become void, if they no longer exist?
The contracts for both pilot groups would remain in effect until they are fully "integrated". That's the term for a single list. An example of an ALPA/ALPA merger that illustrates the set-up was the NWA/REP merger. The merger was announced in March, 1986. The
Policy Implementation Date (snap shot used for integration purposes) was later that year. The two lists remained separate and the contracts operated independently, with different work rules, pay, and benefits until the end of 1989, when the arbitrator issued his award. The LBO of NWA had taken place in '89 as well, and both MEC's ratified the contract at that point. The new Blue Book was the result. Republic Airlines ceased to exist in 1986, with aircraft painted in new livery and pilots wearing the same uniform, but Republic pilots "existed" until the Robert's Award was accepted by all 4 parties . (For the pedanic among us, the Letter of Agreement that established the Dispute Resolution Committee was signed January 20, 1990...the last requirement for final implementation of the Robert's Award)
I was hired after the merger, so I never had a dog in that fight. I just had to pay the #$%@
bills for it!
If NWA ALPA merges the list, do they become subject to what XJ ALPA agreed to?
Depends. Merger Policy requires negotiation with the Company for transition to the single contract. It's possible the process could be completed when the final merged list is announced, but that would only happen if the two pilot groups agreed to the deal without having to let an arbitrator decide.
My guess is NWA management would seek to continue the pay and work rules for XJ pilots as long as possible, and would stall. A possible ALPA strategy in that case would be to seek an arbitrator ASAP, which would put a more rigid timeline on the process of integration.
If NWA ALPA merges the list, have they created a de-facto "B-scale" for the XJ guys?
No. A "B-scale" exists when two pilots on the same aircraft/seat are being paid a different amount, or the pay rates don't "blend". Example: In '89, when the REP B-scale found it's way into the integrated contract, pilots hired into the 727 S/O position were paid two different amounts depending on whether they were hired before October...or after. Same longevity, same category...different rate. At 5 years the rates merged. Since no NWA pilots are flying the SF-340 at
any rate, it'd be kinda hard to call whatever rate was established a "B-scale".
The biggest single
contractual impediment to merging either of the Airlinks into the mainline disappeared when the Pension was frozen. It would have been tough to assimilate a group that had no form of DB, with a group that had an actively growing one.
Gee! We're
lucky, huh?
