B. SENIORITY AND LONGEVITY
1. Selected pilots will be assigned seniority positions and become eligible for compensation
and benefits with Mesaba, notwithstanding provisions of the Mesaba Agreement to the
contrary, including but not limited to Sections 3 (Compensation), 7 (Vacations), 22
(Seniority), and 28 (Retirement) under the following terms and conditions:
a. Selected SF-340 Captains will receive seniority credit at Mesaba for their Express
seniority on a one-for-two basis, and selected J-31 Captains will receive seniority
credit for their Express seniority on a one-for-three basis. After August 1, 1997,
seniority will accrue on a one-for-one basis.
(i) Any MEM domicile pilot placed on the preference list will receive
seniority credit based on the applicable ratio above, unless that ratio
results in a seniority position more favorable than the relative seniority
position of the most senior unfilled position among the MSP based pilots.
In that case, the pilot will occupy the position of the most senior pilot who
did not submit a request. For example, if all of the most senior MSP SF-
340 Captains request to transfer to Mesaba except pilot seniority number
5, the most senior MEM SF-340 Captain will assume the seniority credit
that MSP SF-340 Captain number 5 would have received, or his own ratio
seniority position, whichever is numerically higher.
b. Each selected Captain will be deemed to have completed his probationary period,
and will not be subject to the provisions of Section 22 A. of the Mesaba
Agreement.
c. The selected First Officers will be awarded seniority dates of August 1, 1997 at
Mesaba, and shall be ranked consistent with their relative seniority at Express.
Each selected First Officer will be deemed to have completed his probationary
period at Mesaba, and will not be subject to the provisions of Section 22.A. of the
Mesaba Agreement, provided that he has spent 365 days in the active service of
Express. If not, he shall serve out the remainder of his probationary period at
Mesaba.
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d. Selected SF-340 Captains will receive longevity credit at Mesaba for their
Express longevity on a one-for-two basis. Selected J-31 Captains will receive
longevity credit for their Express longevity on a one-for-three basis. First Officers
will begin to receive longevity credit commencing on the vacancy effective dates
as provided in A.1.d. above.
e. The provisions of Section 22.B. (Seniority General) of the Mesaba Agreement
shall be applicable to each selected pilot consistent with the following: Subparagraph
B.1. will be applicable as modified by paragraph B.1.a. above. A
selected Captain shall be eligible to hold an award to AVRO Captain after every
pilot on the Mesaba Pilots’ System Seniority List as of July 31, 1997 has
sufficient seniority to have been awarded an AVRO Captain position.
C. COMPENSATION
1. Selected SF-340 Captains will be compensated at the applicable hourly rates for the SF-
340 equipment type and Years in Service which appear in the Section 3.A. table of the
Mesaba Agreement or at the pilot’s then applicable Express hourly rate (“red circle
rate”), whichever is greater. A pilot will be paid at the red circle rate until such time as
the applicable Mesaba hourly rate is greater. Years in Service shall be computed by
crediting Express longevity on a one-for-two basis through August 1, 1997, and on a onefor-
one basis thereafter. Selected J-31 Captains will be compensated based on the
applicable hourly rates for the J-31 equipment type in the Express Agreement until
completion of IOE at Mesaba, and thereafter at the applicable SF-340 Captain hourly
rates which appear in the applicable Section 3.A. table of the Mesaba Agreement. Years
in Service shall be computed by crediting Express longevity on a one-for-three basis
through August 1, 1997, and on a one-for-one basis thereafter.
2. Selected First Officers will be compensated at the applicable hourly rate in the Express
Agreement until such time as they complete IOE at Mesaba, and thereafter at the
applicable hourly rate for the position they hold.
D. BENEFITS
1. For purposes of Vacation entitlement and accruals, selected pilots will be entitled to bid
vacation in calendar year 1999 in accordance with their accrued longevity under the
terms of this Agreement. A selected pilot will be granted time off without pay in calendar
year 1998 for the same period of time as he could have bid as vacation at Express, and
shall receive vacation pay in a lump sum for accrued vacation hours upon resignation
from Express. Express shall provide to Mesaba the accrued vacation of each transferring
pilot.
2. For purposes of the Company 401(k) Savings Plan, selected pilots will be entitled to
participate upon completion of IOE at Mesaba. For purposes of entitlement to Company
match percentage pursuant to Section 28 of the Mesaba Agreement, selected pilots with
at least one (1) year of service with Express will be deemed to have completed one (1)
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year of service with Mesaba. If a selected pilot has less than one (1) year of service with
Express, that pilot’s service time with Express will be credited for the purpose of
computing eligibility for participation in the 401(k) Savings Plan and eligibility for the
Company match. With respect to vesting, selected pilots will be deemed to have accrued
longevity commencing on their effective date of hire by Mesaba (August 1, 1997). In
addition, Mesaba agrees to permit selected pilots to “roll over” their existing 401(k)
accounts from Express upon their enrollment in the 401(k) Savings Plan.
3. For purposes of entitlement to Health and Dental Insurance Plans at Mesaba, selected
pilots will be entitled to enroll upon completion of IOE at Mesaba, with no waiting
period, and with no potential loss of benefits attributable to a pre-existing condition.
Benefit participation levels will be determined by the pilot’s actual date of hire by
Mesaba.
4. It is the intent of the parties that in computations of entitlement to benefits not
specifically considered in this Letter, selected pilots will be treated as having longevity
credit based upon the completion of IOE at Mesaba, except that selected pilots will
receive credit for their prior Express service in the calculation of retiree pass benefits. For
the purpose of calculating duration of a selected pilot’s medical leave at Mesaba, the
pilot’s longevity as provided in paragraph B.1.d. and e. will apply.
E. GENERAL
1. A selected award pilot will not be required to pay any application fees or for any part of
any training costs nor be required to sign any training contract as a condition of
employment with Mesaba.
2. Mesaba will purchase a full uniform for any Express pilot who accepts employment as a
pilot with Mesaba.
F. RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES
Any disputes regarding the interpretation or application of this Letter, or the
interpretation or application of the corresponding provisions of the collective bargaining
agreement between Mesaba and the Association that became effective June 1, 1996, or the
interpretation or application of the corresponding provisions of the collective bargaining
agreement between Express and the Association that became effective March 1, 1996, as it
relates to the subject matter of this Letter of Agreement, shall be resolved under the provisions of
Sections 20 and 21 of the then effective collective bargaining agreement between Mesaba and
the Association. However, any dispute concerning the selection process or results of the Mesaba
vacancies granted by Express, or any prior employment issues not directly related to this Letter
of Agreement, will be heard and decided by the Express System Board of Adjustment. Any pilot
who wishes to challenge the result of the selection process, except for the interview at Mesaba,
must file a written grievance within seven (7) calendar days of the posting of the results of the
selection process, in accordance with the provisions of Section 21 of the Express Agreement.
Any grievance not filed within this time limit shall be deemed untimely. Prior to any grievance
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heard by the System Board, the parties will discuss the grievance in an effort to resolve the
dispute. Any grievance on the bid process or results thereof will be accorded expedited handling
such that a final decision, with a neutral presiding, will be rendered within thirty (30) days of the
filing of the grievance. Parties to this Letter shall be entitled to appear by designation of their
representative, and present evidence and witnesses to the System Board. The parties agree that
they will adhere to and be bound by the decision and award of the System Board, and, that the
System Board shall be authorized to award a make whole remedy, in its discretion, as a remedy
for violation(s) of this Letter. Prior to convening the System Board to hear any dispute, the
parties shall be advised of the dispute by copy of the Letter of Submission, and notification of the
hearing date(s). The costs of the System Board shall be shared equally by the Association and the
participating Company(ies).
