Compass Flow Through Question

[captgibbles]

Hey guys,

I was wondering if anyone had seen the actual letter of agreement pertaining to the flow through to NWA for Compass pilots. I just had a friend speek with a NWA union rep that said there was no flow through for Compass pilots. He showed him an agreement that provided only for a flow back, and flow through for NWA pilots, and said that no compass pilot will ever flow through to NWA. Does anyone know the truth to this agreement? Thanks for your input.

 

[koepp]

I would not be shocked if the flow up circumstances changed before the first Compass pilot had 30 months.

Your friend must have talked to different NWA union reps than I have talked to.

The NWA negotiating committee members who actually signed the flow through/back LOA that is in our contract say that it will work.

 

[captgibbles]

So the contract actually states in it that the flow through will happen the way the company told us it would in the interview?

 

[DrewBlows]

So the contract actually states in it that the flow through will happen the way the company told us it would in the interview?

Yes. I'm not sure if there is an electronic version of the contract. I'll look for it.

 

[koepp]

D. NWA Flow Down Seniority, Protected Rights and Flow Up

1. Except as stated in paragraph D.2. below:

a. All Northwest Airlines pilots who elect employment at Compass Airlines via the Feeder Carrier Opportunity List shall be considered to be senior to all Feeder Carrier Affiliate pilots, and

b. Shall be ranked among themselves on the Compass Airlines Seniority List in order of their respective seniority at Northwest.

2. Feeder Carrier Affiliate pilots who elect protected right status:

a. Must do so within forty-five (45) days after their notification of an employment opportunity at Northwest; (1) By doing so, the Feeder Carrier Affiliate pilot will (except as provided in paragraph D.2.c. below) permanently forfeit any future employment opportunity at Northwest Airlines provided by the flow through agreement with Northwest Airlines and Compass Airlines.

b. A protected rights Compass Airlines pilot shall be senior at Compass Airlines to any pilot flowing down from Northwest Airlines subsequent to the employment of the protected rights pilot at Compass Airlines.

c. No more than ninety percent (90%) of pilot positions will be preserved for Northwest Airlines pilots (a "preserved position"). No more than ten percent (10%) of pilot positions will be preserved for pilots electing protected rights status (a "rights status position") at Compass Airlines. In the event of a reduction in the total number of positions at Compass, the number of "preserved positions" and "rights status positions" will be adjusted to maintain the nine to one (9:1) ratio. "Rights status" will be removed from pilots in reverse seniority order and such pilot will again have flow rights to Northwest.

3. Compass Airlines pilots will be offered employment at Northwest Airlines before any other Northwest Airlines Affiliate Carrier or new hires from the street directly to Northwest Airlines.

a. Offers to flow up will be in seniority order, provided that, in order to be eligible to flow up a pilot, must:
(1) Be a captain, and
(2) Have at least thirty (30) months on payroll at Compass Airlines (see Sections 7 A. and 14 A.1.c. for definition of "on payroll"; for purposes of this paragraph 22 D.3., a pilot shall be deemed to be on payroll while on military leave).

b. The maximum number of Compass pilots flowing up to Northwest shall be:
(1) twenty-five percent (25%) of the total pilot group over a rolling twelve (12) month period, and
(2) no more than twenty (20) pilots per month.

c. For purposes of determining the "total pilot group" in paragraph D.3.b.(1) above, the following methodology shall be used:
(1) As of the first day of each month, the number of pilots on the Compass Pilots’ Seniority List on the first day of that month, excluding pilots on an extended illness or absence who have not stated a return date during that month, will be determined.
(2) Twenty-five percent (25%) of this number will be the maximum number of pilots permitted to flow up under this Agreement over a rolling twelve (12) month period ending in the current month. Any fraction will be rounded to the next whole number.
(3) The number of flow up pilots in the prior
eleven (11) months will be determined.
(4) If the number calculated in subparagraph (3) above is less than the number calculated in subparagraph (2), then the difference (up to twenty (20)) shall be granted a right to flow up to Northwest.

EXAMPLE: On March 1, 2011, there are three hundred sixty (360) pilots on the Seniority List. Over the prior eleven (11) months, a total of eighty (80) pilots flowed up to Northwest. The total of three hundred sixty (360) pilots multiplied by twenty-five (25%) equals ninety (90) pilots. 90-80 = 10. Ten (10) additional pilots are granted flow up rights to Northwest.

d. A pilot, other than a furloughed Northwest pilot, who accepts flow up to Northwest may be held at Compass for up to three (3) months beyond his Northwest class date due to operational constraints at Compass, provided that Northwest Airlines has agreed that his Northwest system seniority date and EDAP at Northwest shall be the same dates as if he had commenced training on his original Northwest class date.

EXCEPTION: A supervisory pilot who has held a supervisory pilot position for at least the prior year and who has accepted flow up to Northwest may be held at Compass for up to nine (9) months beyond his Northwest class date due to operational constraints, provided Northwest Airlines has agreed to handle the pilot’s NWA system seniority date and EDAP as provided in paragraph D.3.d. above.
e. Compass pilots, including furloughed Northwest pilots at Compass, shall be released to flow up to Northwest in seniority order.

 

[DrewBlows]

You beat me to it. Yours is better formatted anyway.

 

[captgibbles]

Hey thanks guys for all of the help. It really helps with my go, no go decision. I really appreciate it.

 

[DoinTime]

So the contract actually states in it that the flow through will happen the way the company told us it would in the interview?

Koepp hit it on the head with his earlier statement. The flow agreement assumes that both NWA and Compass remain independent operations. A merger or acquisition of either entity will likely derail the whole program.

 

[labbats]

Didn't Eagle have the very same agreement with AA years ago? AA decided that 50% of every new class would hurt Eagle too much so they gave them a number and left them at Eagle. They're still there.

Who knows where NWA will be in 3 years anyway? If that is what your decision is hinging on, I'd suggest looking more at commutability and other factors.

I don't mean to pee on anyone's parade, but anyone who would have guessed what was happening now on New Year's Eve 2004 deserves a medal.

 

[JJET44]

I don't know about anyone else but I was hired at Compass with the understanding that I was going to flow through and that agreement disappeared, I think that I would have to bring forth a law suit against NWA.