July 2004 - ".... Durable Language – The Executive Board indicated its disappointment with
the lack of even any type of response from Management regarding this proposal. As per the instruction from the Representative Board, the Durable Language proposal was resubmitted to Management. Brad Holt indicated that nothing in that proposal can be agreed to at this time; that the Company will never sign a document that restricts them from doing business. We suggested a statement that would ensure that Management would do everything possible to protect our seniority in the event of a merger, buyout, etc. That was also met with resistance. Brad would not give us any indication that any type of document with wording about seniority protection would ever be signed. He does not want to give this pilot group a false hope or sense of security that seniority would be the controlling factor in such an event. Brad mentioned that it should be enough that Management has in the past done their best to protect pilot seniority and that signed statements and commitments do not have to be produced. He indicated that there might very well be the possibility sometime in the future that senior Management will do what ever it takes to keep the airline growing and that in order to do so there are no guarantees that seniority will absolutely be protected....
....Current Management Philosophy - As per Brad Holt, the directive that we received during this Flight Ops. Meeting was no new or existing policy will be implemented or changed unless it is a benefit to the Company (cost wash or savings) AND at the same time a benefit to the crewmember (quality of life improvement and/or more pay as a result of more productivity. Brad mentioned that it cannot cost the Company a “single penny more”. Brad said that he has no problem paying pilots more money as long as they work for it. That is how pilots will make more money in these difficult times, not in wage increases."
Good luck guys. Good thing you have that contract.