Rjet update

[707eng]

Date: September 15, 2009

To: All Affected Pilots of Republic Airways Holdings, Inc.
Chautauqua Airlines
Republic Airlines
Shuttle America

From: RAH Pilots’ Integration Committee
Capt. XXXXXXXX
Capt. XXXXXXXX
Capt. XXXXXXXX
Capt. XXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXX, Outside Counsel

Re: Status of Seniority Integration

The Allegheny-Mohawk Labor Protective Provisions’s lay out the description for an Integration process between all affected parties in an airline merger, or in this case acquisition. There have been many questions as to where we are in the process, and we hope to address most of these.

First and foremost, all affected parties must agree to begin the Integration process. Therefore we are unable to begin negotiations until all parties agree to begin the process. The Allegheny-Mohawk LPP’s contain specific language in this regard. One party may not be denied or left out of the process. We know that in the last Midwest ALPA update the Midwest Merger Committee asserts that we are unduly withholding progress in the Integration process. We have, in fact, rejected Midwest’s request for an arbitrator because all of the affected parties are not yet involved. This is because Midwest Pilots’ have yet to file for Arbitration with Frontier, Lynx, and Mokulele. All parties must come to agreement on the neutral selection of an arbitrator and process. One party cannot force arbitration upon another. This endeavor must be completed by all affected parties.

The Midwest Pilots Integration Committee is understandably anxious to begin the negotiation process. It is the firm belief of the RAH Integration committee that a successful integration will only result from all parties participating in the negotiation process.

Based on discussions with Frontier Mergers and Acquisitions Committee, they will be ready to begin Integration negotiations after the close of the RAH acquisition of Frontier Holdings, to happen on or about October 1, 2009.

Lynx has recently voted on representation and are now being represented by United Transportation Union (“UTU”). We are awaiting confirmation of officers and a certified seniority list.

Mokulele is a non-union carrier and is not represented by a union. Their pilot group has designated a spokesman and we are in discussions about the Integration process.
Based on the above, we would look to have the first formal, all carrier integration meeting in October 2009. Our first step will be to receive a global fleet plan briefing, encompassing all carriers, from the company. After that time, we may formally begin the negotiation process. If parties come to an impasse at negotiations, within 20 days we will begin arbitrator selection, and then arbitration.

It is this Committee’s responsibility and belief to always act in the best interests of the RAH pilot group. It is for this reason we have insisted on all parties being involved in the integration process. This is a long and arduous process, and your patience is appreciated. We will endeavor to keep you as updated as possible, and we will be posting a large amount of background information on the process to the union website. Please review this information, as it will answer many of your questions regarding the general integration process. If you have any specific questions, please email us at [email protected].

 

[Cardinal]

That's a helpful counterpoint, thanks for posting.

 

[ultrarunner]

First and foremost, all affected parties must agree to begin the Integration process. Therefore we are unable to begin negotiations until all parties agree to begin the process....We know that in the last Midwest ALPA update the Midwest Merger Committee asserts that we are unduly withholding progress in the Integration process. We have, in fact, rejected Midwest’s request for an arbitrator because all of the affected parties are not yet involved. This is because Midwest Pilots’ have yet to file for Arbitration with Frontier, Lynx, and Mokulele. All parties must come to agreement on the neutral selection of an arbitrator and process. One party cannot force arbitration upon another. This endeavor must be completed by all affected parties.

Sounds like like the MidEx MEC better get their poop together, or they are going left at the dance with no partner!

 

[likeitis]

Sounds like like the MidEx MEC better get their poop together, or they are going left at the dance with no partner!

They do. RJET has a history of stalling. They had since March to do something with Mokulele yet they haven't even remotely attempted to start the process. They had 3 months prior to any other announcements to do something and they didn't do anything. This shows a pattern. Why didn't they even attempt to integrate them in March? In April? In June? They didn't even approach Mokulele until just recently even though their contract states that they were required to integrate them. Why?

 

[ultrarunner]

Hmmm...well, it reads as if MEH is attempting to call in an arbitrator before the process gets to that point.

Stalling or not, the MidEx MEC might just have to suck it up, since in a couple of months, everyone of 'em will be on the street. And IMO, they immediately bring nothing to the table since all of their flying will have been replaced, and they will have zero airframes.

 

[UND_Sioux]

I don't think RJET had a greater than 50% controlling interest in Mokulele until recently. That is why there was no attempt at integration.

 

[jacksjj]

I don't think RJET had a greater than 50% controlling interest in Mokulele until recently. That is why there was no attempt at integration.

True statement.

 

[hockeypilot44]

This merger is going to get nasty. Five pilot groups are going to be merged with completely different career expectations. The Northwest/Delta merger worked out because the two airlines were similar. Both were international legacies. Both were hiring with no involuntary furloughs. Here you're merging 2 regionals, 2 majors, and a part 135 operator. At least three of the airlines have furloughs. This is a recipe for disaster. The fact that Republic is the company doing the buying and that Republic 190's are replacing ALL of the Midwest flying makes things worse. The Republic pilots feel that the 190's are their aircraft. If this is true, then the Midwest pilots bring no airframes. The Midwest pilots believe that because the 190's are direct replacement, those are the aircraft that they are entitled to. In the end, I see labor unrest for years.

 

[Anonymous2]

Since when was Mokulele officially part of RJET? Is it an official subsidiary now?

 

[CitationLover]

Hmmm...well, it reads as if MEH is attempting to call in an arbitrator before the process gets to that point.

Stalling or not, the MidEx MEC might just have to suck it up, since in a couple of months, everyone of 'em will be on the street. And IMO, they immediately bring nothing to the table since all of their flying will have been replaced, and they will have zero airframes.

1) You f@#$s steal our jobs
2) Your ******************************bag company buys us ALREADY
3) now WE have the gall to ask to be integrated NOW while you are STEALING are remaining jobs and YOUR CONTRACT says we should be integrated.

I sincerely hope RAH is bankrupt within a year to rid the profession of these 1800 idiots.

 

[boomlrd]

1) You f@#$s steal our jobs
2) Your ******************************bag company buys us ALREADY
3) now WE have the gall to ask to be integrated NOW while you are STEALING are remaining jobs and YOUR CONTRACT says we should be integrated.

I sincerely hope RAH is bankrupt within a year to rid the profession of these 1800 idiots.

Do you ever wish your MEC and pilot group would have worked with AirTran when you had the chance? I don't know, but that was a pretty bad choice to side with your management with how untrustworthy they were in order to "keep Midwest, my Midwest" in the words of Delta marketing.

 

[CitationLover]

Do you ever wish your MEC and pilot group would have worked with AirTran when you had the chance? I don't know, but that was a pretty bad choice to side with your management with how untrustworthy they were in order to "keep Midwest, my Midwest" in the words of Delta marketing.

Do you understand how a transaction takes place? If so, then answer this question:

How many seats on the Midwest Board of Directors, of which Air Tran HAD 3 (all of which voted for TPG over Air Tran's offer), did our MEC have? Those twelve individuals were the only ones whose opinions mattered.

Your point is moot and stupid. Deal in reality. Of course all 400 would like to go back and try the Air Tran route so we could be fired for wearing your tie to a non work event.

 

[Metro752]

.....

 

[Metro752]

........

 

[RobCat]

1) You f@#$s steal our jobs
2) Your ******************************bag company buys us ALREADY
3) now WE have the gall to ask to be integrated NOW while you are STEALING are remaining jobs and YOUR CONTRACT says we should be integrated.

I sincerely hope RAH is bankrupt within a year to rid the profession of these 1800 idiots.

Remember, you have the option to quit. I have alot of empathy for what my Midwest brothers have went thru but you are pushing it. At some point a decision is going to be made as to how to handle the furloughs and your post may have an effect as to where I stand.

 

[fob727]

Remember, you have the option to quit. I have alot of empathy for what my Midwest brothers have went thru but you are pushing it. At some point a decision is going to be made as to how to handle the furloughs and your post may have an effect as to where I stand.

Wow, I bet they are worried about that.

 

[likeitis]

I don't think RJET had a greater than 50% controlling interest in Mokulele until recently. That is why there was no attempt at integration.

Happened back in March. Rjet had 3.5 months to start the integration prior to any announcement of Frontier or Midwest. They didn't so much as contact the Mokulele pilots. Why when their contract states that they do. Did the IBT have prior knowledge of BB's plan for lowering his pilot cost by manipulation of the AM process?

 

[pilot05]

false, that was only for 50%.

 

[pilot05]

Do you understand how a transaction takes place? If so, then answer this question:

How many seats on the Midwest Board of Directors, of which Air Tran HAD 3 (all of which voted for TPG over Air Tran's offer), did our MEC have? Those twelve individuals were the only ones whose opinions mattered.

Your point is moot and stupid. Deal in reality. Of course all 400 would like to go back and try the Air Tran route so we could be fired for wearing your tie to a non work event.

So the respective executives who made the deal are responsible for the outcome, not a pilot group? That's crazy talk.

 

[Popeye0537]

1) You f@#$s steal our jobs
2) Your ******************************bag company buys us ALREADY
3) now WE have the gall to ask to be integrated NOW while you are STEALING are remaining jobs and YOUR CONTRACT says we should be integrated.

I sincerely hope RAH is bankrupt within a year to rid the profession of these 1800 idiots.

Hey Citation, you better brush up on your Caravan skills because thats the only thing your gonna be able to hold after you are integrated. Troll

 

[likeitis]

Hey Citation, you better brush up on your Caravan skills because thats the only thing your gonna be able to hold after you are integrated. Troll

I guess if he falls down the stairs and shatters his brain stem and then decides to cut his current pay by 50%+, loses his self respect, maybe he will be flying for RAH.

 

[Minimaniac]

The RAH CBA allows for integration when RAH owns MORE THAN 50% of a particular company. The union is obligated to pursue integration when more than 50% is owned, but prevented from pursuing integration if 50% or less of a company is owned by RAH. What do you know, RAH owned exactly 50% of Mokulele until recently, preventing us from pursuing integration. As soon as the company disclosed that it upped its investment from 50% to 89%, our union began to tackle that issue. Right at that time, however, RAH management announced the intent to acquire Midwest and Frontier. As the memo at the beginning of this thread indicates, our union believes that the spirit of Allgheny-Mohawk requires us to integrate all parties (F9/Lynx/Mokulele/Midwest) at one time.

The IBT at RAH takes our scope very seriously. I am not one to quote what I consider to be private forums on public boards like this, but there are multiple quotes I could make that convey the union's awareness and intent to integrate Mokulele if and when our ownership increased to over 50%. We will fight for Mokulele integration as hard as we will fight for Frontier integration. Our union will not let a precedent be set where the company is allowed to control another airline and keep those pilots separate.

I know Midwest guys want to get the ball rolling on integration. We at RAH would love to have the matter settled as well. While the delay hurts you, it does NOT benefit us. RAH pilots are not gaining anything by having Midwest pilots separate from us. There are no recalls, and no overall fleet growth here. When the rumored growth comes, it will be on 190 aircraft, which means Midwest guys will have a pretty good shot at being placed on those aircraft anyway. It is not like we are going to upgrade all our 145 pilots to the 190 and then stick Midwest guys on the 145. October is less than a month away. That is when IBT wants to discuss integration. Not December, not 2010. One month from now. I think you guys will benefit from a 5-way integration anyhow, since you will have the support of Frontier pilots in talks. Frontier could hold up the integration until they feel Midwest gets a fair deal.

 

[CitationLover]

Remember, you have the option to quit. I have alot of empathy for what my Midwest brothers have went thru but you are pushing it. At some point a decision is going to be made as to how to handle the furloughs and your post may have an effect as to where I stand.

You bet I can quit. As to how my post on a webboard will affect your opinion, I guess you do have a weak mind.

 

[CitationLover]

Hey Citation, you better brush up on your Caravan skills because thats the only thing your gonna be able to hold after you are integrated. Troll

Okay Popeye, thanks. You can fly MKE-LAX for $37/hr and beat your chest all day long. Whoppee do you fly an EMB. Better hide that boner.

I'd rather fly the piper I am paying to fly right now than whore myself out like you do.

 

[ttuite]

This merger is going to get nasty. Five pilot groups are going to be merged with completely different career expectations. The Northwest/Delta merger worked out because the two airlines were similar. Both were international legacies. Both were hiring with no involuntary furloughs. Here you're merging 2 regionals, 2 majors, and a part 135 operator. At least three of the airlines have furloughs. This is a recipe for disaster. The fact that Republic is the company doing the buying and that Republic 190's are replacing ALL of the Midwest flying makes things worse. The Republic pilots feel that the 190's are their aircraft. If this is true, then the Midwest pilots bring no airframes. The Midwest pilots believe that because the 190's are direct replacement, those are the aircraft that they are entitled to. In the end, I see labor unrest for years.

Staple them all in order of when RAH bought em. If it was good enough for the Shuttle America Pilots it should be good enough for you. Funny I didn't hear all of this noise when the Shuttle guys and gals got hosed!!!!

 

[En Mort Main]

Didn't the Shuttle guys get hosed by the arbitrator?

En Mort Main

 

[climb2slow]

Staple them all in order of when RAH bought em. If it was good enough for the Shuttle America Pilots it should be good enough for you. Funny I didn't hear all of this noise when the Shuttle guys and gals got hosed!!!!

Spoken by a true F8 Doosh

 

[king10pin02]

Didn't the Shuttle guys get hosed by the arbitrator?

En Mort Main

Yes, it went to arbitration and the arbitrator went with the CHQ proposal.

 

[B727FA]

I'd rather fly the piper I am paying to fly right now than whore myself out like you do.

Don't forget to call "Clear" at engine start.

 

[CitationLover]

Don't forget to call "Clear" at engine start.

not if you're in front of the airplane. remember to get my coffee when i am onboard as i'm sure that's in bedford's plans for you guys.