Everyone should be looking at this from a financial position.
If their is a staple of USAir above all AWA pilots, you better expect lower wages. Their is no way management is going to allow the training department to be tied up for two to three years with upgrades, bumps and rebumps. Believe guys would be rebidding for up to a year on equipment. Ask UAL guys how the bids went after 9/11. It took a year or so to finish all the training.
Now if you think that training does not come at a cost you are mistaken. Management would view this as a significant cost and I would imagine look to cut costs in the contract somewhere else, whether it be wages or retirement or workrules.
Parker, the CEO, stated no large cash outlays. I really don't think he is going to allow 10 to 20 year fences to exist, like NWA did, because this is cost prohibitive. Parker wants to realize his syngery costs as soon as possible.
Secondly, my understanding is when the arbitrator looks at the seniority intergration he looks at who currently on the list. Not who is on furlough. Guys were even told at UAL, that if a merger took place while pilots were still on furlough, chances are they would not have a job. Not to say things can't be worked out, but its tough. So why any pilot from any airline, whether it be DAL, AMR, UAL or any other one, would think they are entitled to a job because they are on furlough is beside me. You are not on property, management does not care. They just soon hire new people for cheaper wages.
Lastly, it is also my understanding that USAir does have a portion of their list of pilots in their 40's, that are active. Thus even in a reality seniority issue they would make captain. Next, most guys that were hired at USAir in the 89 or so era, have spent more time on furlough from USAir then they have actively spent flying. Why a guy who spent 8 years on furlough from USAir, go back and get refurloughed would ever want to go back to the company is beyond me. Furlough me once shame on you, furlough me twice shame on me.
The final word, I got news for everyone. Nobody really knows if this merger is really going to be successful or not. NObody really knows if the company will still exist in 20 years or not. With the way the work groups are fighting currently,both sides, I can't imagine having mixed crews in the cockpit. I can only say I am sure if will be interesting, no matter how this intergration happens. Once the merger lists come out, I guarantee not every pilot is going to be happy and this disagreement will carry over into the cockpit. We are humans and are emotions run.
I say good luck to everyone. I hope for the best, and keep all options open.
