Pooh Marks said:
My solution (which is open to criticism, debate, and correction):
1. Merge the 3 WOs, with an integrated list
2. Create MidAtlantic, with ML pilots at the top of the seniority list.
3. Merge 3 WOs with MidAtlantic, putting WO pilots behind the ML guys
4. Now you have one airline, MidAtlantic, with 2000+ pilots, with flow-thru to ML
5. Acquire their projected 200-400 RJs, with provision that every Dash or Dornier parked must be replaced with an RJ.
One airline, one President, one training department, one scheduling dept, etc.
Why wouldn't this work? Somebody please show me the error in my thinking. Maybe I'm an idiot, but it kind of makes sense to me.
You're thinking, which is exactly what ALPA and the UMEC have NOT been doing. You're not an idiot, but you left a few holes. Here are some suggestions/ideas/modifications to your plan for your consideration.
1) What does the Company want? a) 300 RJs b) $595 million concessions from the pilots; c) flexibility to right size equipment; d) ability to control costs.
2) What do the pilots need? a) Recall of all furloughed USAG pilots; b) a single seniority list permiting access to all USAG flying by ALL USAG pilots on that list; c}stop to further subcontracting; d) No more Alter Egos.
So lets see if we can put that together. We start with your plan and expand a bit.
[Note to self: There are 4 wholly owneds. One of them is a major. 3 of them are regionals. Potomac/MAA has to go.]
1) Merge the 3 WOs, with an integrated list.
Yes. Get together yourselves, before you propose anything. Merge your 3 lists by DOH strictly (bite whatever bullet that causes) but do it NOW.
2. Create MidAtlantic, with ML pilots at the top of the seniority list.
NO! Eliminate MidAtlantic from the equation. A new Alter Ego is unnecessary and clouds the issues. It has to go. If you don't get rid of it before it starts it will haunt all of you for a long time. Don't give them another NYAir.
Replace your #2 with this: 2) Chose one (1) contract from the 3 that you now have. It will apply hereafter to all 3 regionals. You'll need to modify Section 1 when this agreement is inked.
3. Merge 3 WOs with MidAtlantic, putting WO pilots behind the ML guys
NO. MAA has to go (see #2 above) Replace your #3 with this:
3) Merge ALG/PDT/PSA. (Lets name it NEW for now to make it easy) Use list from #1 and contract you picked from #2. Note: It is not necessary to literally merge the corporations. It can be a virtual merger. The single list and single contract is what's important. An actual merger is acceptable too. What we "give" the company with the virtual merger is flexibility. When your MECs meet to do the single list and pick the one contract, elect new Officers for NEW. [When the Company agrees, they take office]
You now have two airlines owned by USAG. One major + one regional. NEW + AAA. You can get all of this done internally without the Company. It will be ready when they agree to the concept.
New #4.
4) Get the NEW MEC with the AAA MEC. [AAA pilots: You need to tell your MEC to hang up the egos, get with the program and talk turkey. Its time to stop working against each other and work together. If you don't work together, ALPA will be in more trouble than it can handle over LOA-81. Can that and get real.]
Merge the AAA + NEW seniority lists. Create a Single System List. Like this:
a. The NEW list is stapled to the bottom of the AAA list. The most senior NEW pilot is now 1# junior to the most junior AAA pilot. (Include all furloughed pilots from both AAA and NEW) Call this new list the USAG Combined System Seniority List (or any name you like better, but name it.)
b. No system flush, i.e., No AAA pilot may displace any NEW pilot from his current position (seat/equipment). No NEW pilot may displace any AAA pilot from his current position. For furloughed pilots current position = last bid held by that pilot.
c. Except for filling of vacancies and pay NEW pilots retain their longevity on the USAG Combined List, e.g., pass priviliges, etc..
d. All pilots on the USAG Combined List may bid any vacancy at AAA or NEW in accordance with USAG seniority. No restrictions, no fences.
Delete your # 4 and your #5. Replace as follows:
4) Do NOT merge the AAA with NEW corporations. Do NOT attempt to merge the AAA and NEW contracts. You have 2 airlines and 2 separate contracts.
Note: This gives the Company the future cost control that they need. Technically it is not a B scale. B scales apply to "same equipment". You don't and will not have that. What you have now is similar to the old Metro Jet arrangment. Not the same but similar.
5) When a AAA pilot is awarded a vacancy at NEW he will work and be paid under the provisions of the NEW contract. He will retain his longevity (earned at AAA) for pay purposes. He will retain retirement benefits accrued at AAA and will begin to earn retirement benefits at NEW.
When a NEW pilot is awarded a vacancy at AAA he will work under the provisions of the AAA contract. A NEW pilot transitioning to AAA will NOT retain his NEW longevity for pay. He will begin at 2nd year pay (no probationary pay unless of course he was on probation) and accrue longevity at AAA thereafter. He will retain retirement benefits earned at NEW and will begin to earn retirement benefits at AAA.
6) Remove the Scope restriction that apply to Regional Jets from the AAA contract. Give the company the 300 RJs that it wants. Except for a - h below, impose no restrictions on how those RJs may be used,
a. The seventy (70) regional jets currently operated at USAG subcontractors may continue to operate at those subcontractors in accordance with their current contracts. NO additional RJs will be placed at any subcontractor. When existing code-share contracts expire, they will NOT be renewed. When a subcontractor agreement expires, if the Company still needs that flying, it will be added to NEW.
b. After the signing of this agreement, the Company will not enter into any new subcontracting agreements with domestic air carriers.
c. All additional RJs (230) added to the fleet will be operated exclusively by NEW and flown by pilots on the USAG Combined System Seniority List. Vacancies will be awarded in accordance with USAG seniority.
d. Should the Company acquire any air carrier operating regional jets, it will be merged with NEW per the terms of the NEW contract and the pilots will be placed on the USAG seniority list.
e. If the Company acquires another major airline, it will be merged with AAA and seniority integrated with the USAG Combined System Seniority List per the terms of the AAA contract.
f. If USAG is acquired by another air carrier it will merge AAA & NEW with that carrier and integrate seniority using the USAG seniority list.
g. When a NEW turboprop is retired it will be replaced by a newly acquired regional jet at not less than a 1:1 basis. Additional regional jets may be acquired at the Company's discretion until a total of 300 RJs are being operated at NEW. Regional jets will not be added to the AAA fleet. Mainline aircraft will not be transferred to the NEW fleet.
h. For the purpose of this Agreement, aircraft with 70-seats or less are classified as regional jets. Aircraft with 71-seats or more are classified as mainline jets.
Note: Since all AAA pilots on the USAG list are senior to ALL NEW pilots on the list, this means that furloughed AAA pilots, (who chose to bid) will have first crack at all new RJ seats, including Captain vacancies, created at NEW. This will continue to be the case until all AAA furloughed pilots have been recalled. Since 10 pilots are normally required to crew one RJ, the first 100 RJ vacancies will go to furloughed AAA pilots. Thereafter, NEW pilots will be awarded the remaining vacancies as they occur. [This allows the AAA MEC to protect its furloughed pilots and should also handle the ego problems.]
This eliminates all conflict of interest between USAG pilot groups. It phases out all subcontracting, but does not cause any current subcontracting pilot to lose his job. It eliminates J4J protocol. It solves future Scope problems (for the Company and the pilots) and restores Scope to its original purpose and intent, i.e., all USAG flying (without exception) is conducted by pilots on the USAG seniority list, It gives the Company all the RJs that they want, it provides them with total flexibility in their operation, it provides for cost control via separate contracts. Even ALPA eventually winds up with one MEC and 2 contracts instead of 4 MECs and 4 contracts. Everybody gets what he wants and noone gets hurt of forced out of his job. Its a win/win deal.
The one remaining item is the $595 million in concessions that the Company wants. You are really in the drivers seat for the Company NEEDS this deal. Don't kill your company but get what you need too. You are in a very strong negotiating position if you and the AAA pilots can agree to work as one. If the pilots want this deal, it is doable. You may not get another chance. If the company wants all those new RJs plus concessions, then they have to pay the price of a sensible agreement for the pilots. Its a quid pro quo.
None of the basics cost the pilots any money or the Company any money. Its all a paper exercise until we come to the concessions. That part is whatever you work out.
Obviously this is just a concept. Details have to be refined, but it is not complicated. Its not rocket science, but I think it could solve a lot of problems for everyone.
Since I wrote it, I like it. What do you think?
Best wishes,
Surplus1
CMR
