First, CAL/UAL guys have to get the JOINT contract before the SLI. When Dalpa negotiated with the company for the Joint Contract, the timing was of course bad---oil was at $130 a barrel and looking to go higher. Whatever you do, do not let scope get away from you. Agree to current 70 seat RJs, but make sure they go away when the contracts expire. Also, curb the amount of large props like the Dash-8-400, which are replacing your 737-500s in EWR and soon to be IAH. Then go for pay and rules. Go for higher than DL please. A big pay raise will help cushion the blow to UAL guys who get relative seniority on the new list. It will happen. And, again, get insurance for all pilots starting day 1, not 6 months down the line after being hired. Keep those percentage points going up for the DC fund for the UAL guys, and keep that pension for the CAL guys. You can live with both, you just need to try to make it seem fair. Good luck.
Bye Bye--General Lee