This taken from the Merger committee Q/A...off Alpa Website.
What is the policy initiation date?
ALPA Merger Policy states, “Policy Initiation Date (PID) means the date on which the respective MEC Chairmen and the Executive Council determine that a reasonable probability of a merger being consummated exists or the date on which the Executive Council determines that a reasonable probability of a merger being consummated exists, whichever is earlier. Seniority list integration procedures will commence on the Policy Initiation Date. (AMENDED - Executive Board May 1998)”. There is no mandatory snapshot of the airlines taken on that date or for that matter on any date. The PID is simply the date from which the various deadlines in ALPA Merger Policy are calculated.
5. When is the official snapshot taken of the two airlines?
ALPA Merger Policy contains no provision for any particular snapshot of the operations, the fleets or the jobs at each airline. These are important issues--who’s bringing what to the party. It is up to the two merger committees to decide what information is relevant to the seniority list integration.
6. Once we have a policy initiation date, what happens when?
The first sixty days are used to compile and certify as accurate the respective seniority lists and their accompanying data. Seniority lists are to be exchanged by day 60 (sixty days after the PID). Forty days are then allowed to try and reach negotiated seniority integration. If a negotiated agreement is not reach by day 100, mediation/arbitration is mandatory. 50 days are allowed for mediation and arbitration. This part of the schedule can vary a lot depending on arbitrator availability. A more detailed description of the time schedule is included in ALPA Merger Policy available on the Merger Committee page of our website.