From a Q and A on The Hub:
31.
Question: I am curious that nary a word has been mentioned regarding the Nicolau Award? All mergers are tough, this one has all the ingredients of a disaster. 16 to 14 years of service behind an 2005 new hire - need I say more. I think I was hired in 1986 but now I have the purchasing power of a June 1998 hire. I think something needs to be said. A war is in the making and it needs to be quelled. 22 years ago I experienced an eerily similar award at Air Wisconsin. I was very content there until a merger award came down. The acrimony and toxic work environment that followed were gut wrenching. Its dejavu all over again. Your silence is deafening.
Answer: A number of pilots have asked whether the Company can intervene and
have the seniority integration award modified or set aside entirely. The Company's role in the seniority integration process is limited, and is spelled out in the Transition Agreement entered into by the East and West MECs in September 2005. Pursuant to the terms of the Transition Agreement, the integrated seniority list is determined in accordance with the ALPA Merger Policy, and the list is submitted to the Company by ALPA national for
acceptance. At this time, we know that the list has been sent to both ALPA MECs. ALPA national has not yet submitted the list to the Company. When they do submit the list, the Company then evaluates the award to determine compliance with the five criteria set forth in the Transition Agreement.
If all of the criteria are satisfied, the Company MUST accept the list; it does not have the discretion to unilaterally revise the list or to reject it, again, so long as the criteria are met. Those criteria are:
1. no "system flush" whereby an active pilot may displace any other active pilot from the latter's Position; and 2. furloughed pilots may not bump/displace active pilots; and 3. no requirement for pilots to be compensated for flying not performed (e.g., differential pay for a position not actually flown); and
4. allows pilots who, at the time of implementation of an integrated seniority list, are in the process of completing or who have completed initial qualification training for a new category (e.g., A320 Captain or 757 First
Officer) to be assigned to the position for which they have been trained, regardless of their relative standing on the integrated seniority list; and
5. does not contain conditions and restrictions that materially increase costs associated with training or company paid moves.
Fast forward...the list is delivered to Parker and accepted.
Translation for those of you that didn't get it the first time....The Nic will stick!