Just a thought on career expectations....
Career Expectations are measured the day before the merger. They are based on reasonable career forecasts based on the condition, growth potential, and pilot attrition of the current airline and pilot group. They are not based on our wish lists.
The bottom 10% at CAL are looking at upgrades in 4-5 years, the top half of the seniority list in 10 or less, and retiring in the top 10% (777 or 756 CPT) depending on their age. Most everyone above that will have the ability to use their seniority to pretty much determine their quality of life for the duration.
The bottom 10% at UAL are in a totally different situation. A large number of them are furloughed. Many of those have been hired elsewhere, chosen new careers, or otherwise have no intention of returning. As for the bottom few hundred currently on the property at UAL, I really don't know what expectations are reasonable. I don't have the retirement numbers, which would be the biggest driving force to what a UAL pilot can expect from his/her remaining years at UAL.
I am not throwing this out as flame bait. I am trying to open up dialogue based on a realistic scenario. These are the factors that will have to be considered and that an arbitrator will use to reach a decision. Although "CAL EWR B737" is correct with his comments about arbitrators. They are really big on splitting the baby. This way, everybody gets a piece,...but who wants half a dead baby??? It would really be in everyone's best interest to resolve this between pilots, but how often does that work out???
