Pilots Smooth Way for DAL/NWA Merger

[dtfl]

Wouldn't the fences save the company a fortune in training costs? No fences with a merger of vastly different fleets would mean a lot of retraining as pilots bid to/from Delta/NWA equipment. I bet the company is in favor of fences until they get the fleet sorted out.

One would think....but I wonder if they are thinking the lack of fences would create a more "harmonious" environment? Everyone on both sides would understand some sort of fence.
WORST case...we should have base protection like Diesel discussed.

 

[Noserider76]

I agree that rumors can't be trusted - only facts. With that said, Lee Moak at DALPA would be a complete idiot to not provide fences or furlough protection. Why wouldn't you include fences? Makes no sense. I hear a significant number of NWA pilots live in the Atlanta area - how many of those senior pilots would bid onto the 777 or 767-400 immediately and bump Delta pilots off if no fences were established initially? Sounds odd to me.

Lee Moak would forever be known as Lee CHOKE if the Delta pilots were screwed over (especially considering who would be acquiring whom). I guess it's just a roll of the dice...

No agreement would allow a pilot to be bumped out of his base or equipment because a more senior person wants his spot, or for the category to be rebid under the new list. That would be prohibitively expensive for the company.

Fences would be used to protect individuals in their bases/equipment from being bumped down the seniority list, unreasonably delaying upgrades in his home base etc. They would also be used to protect current occupants of a base/equipment from being displaced in the event that equipment from the other company is retired, bases closed etc. They are divisive but will be necessary if one is to maintain any kind of quality of life, in my opinion. Good implementation of them would benefit both sides by allowing each person to maintain his or her current situation at least through a transition period. We've just been through 6 years of upheaval. The last thing we all need to worry about is not being able to stay or upgrade where we live.

 

[tomgoodman]

Non-traditional integration

In a traditional integration you are correct, however the DAL and NWA pilos are attempting to work these issues out before a PID. If a list is agreed to by both committees, they'll take it to their respective MEC's along with a joint contract for ratification.

FDJ2,

Thanks for that explanation. If they do this, will membership ratification be required too?

 

[FDJ2]

FDJ2,

Thanks for that explanation. If they do this, will membership ratification be required too?

Well according to the book they should, but nothing is for certain.

I suspect that it will be a packaged deal. The vote will be on both the contract and the methodolgy for integrating the list.

Any contract, letter of agreement or letter of understanding that, in the opinion of the MEC,
substantially affects the pay, working conditions, retirement, or career security of member pilots will
be subject to membership ratification under the following terms and conditions:
(1) The MEC will, at its option, ballot the membership of their airline to determine if it is their
desire to have membership ratification. Once membership ratification is established it will remain
in effect until changed by another ballot of the membership through MEC action.
(2) Unless the membership is balloted, as described in Section 2A(1) of this Article, membership​

ratification of individual contracts and agreements will remain the option of the MEC