The arbitrator has some rules to follow in this type of situation. He has to look at expectations and be "fair".
Again, I don't think anyone can look at this and HONESTLY say it's "fair".
DOH is used to determine seniority at an airline so it is easy to fall back on that in most cases. This case was unique and he couldn't do it.
Agreed... He just screwed up the fences to protect both sides equally.
Does anyone really believe the arbitrator was looking to favor any side above the other? To take care of his friends at either airline?
No. I just think he's terminally stupid... or just the most short-sighted arbitrator of all time.
I believe he wanted to be fair. But I also believe he wanted to look like a team player so he could get other arbitration work. In that respect he played some politics. I don't know how that desire could have "screwed" either pilot group.
It's easy to see. Just look at the ruling. Then look at both side's individual seniority list. Then look forward 10 years and see where everyone will fall.
The arbitrator may not have "intended" to screw one side or the other, but the fact remains that he did.
As an aside, UAir management has to be LOVING this ruling. With the lower longevity guys ruling the widebodies in 5 years, it's going to cut their payroll costs DRAMATICALLY.
In an event, its over. Fair or unfair there are some positives to go with the negatives of the decision. (Don't confuse these with any criteria I believe the arbitrator used to make his decision)
It's not over. The UAir guys are going to drag this out for YEARS in every way they can, until Prater tells them to knock it off... and even then they might go to the trouble of running a decert vote IF it will give them another year or so without the integration.
Positives--
The folks furloughed twice (three times?) and for a very long time at East got a reward too. It amazes me why you stuck it out but you did hoping for the best. You'll be going back to work soon.
Unlikely.
Many of those never resigned their seniority when they went to work at other companies.
They're now Captains at Netjets, JetBlue, AirTran, Southwest, FedEx, etc, etc.
I doubt you'll get more than 2 out of every 10 furloughees to accept recalls under the arbitrator's ruling that practically guarantees they won't see upgrade into a NARROWBODY for over a decade... into a widebody,,,, maybe never in their career.
The West guys deserved something for sticking it out at AWA. Many have left for stronger airlines over the years but you remained loyal. I'm glad you got a bennie. A bennie that many think was too generous, but you too have taken it in the shorts in years past (collectively as a pilot group).
I think everyone realizes the AWA pilots will make out like bandits compared to their career expectations pre-merger.
No one's saying that it's the AWA pilot's fault or that they somehow intended to screw the East guys,,, not at all. That's just the way the ruling turned out.
Hope you guys are nice to the East guys as this moves on.
If history repeats itself, it's going to be a long next decade in the East.
When UAir purchased Piedmont and stapled them to the bottom of the list, it was pure HELL going through CLT for the next 10+ years. They were P*SSED and weren't afraid to show it.
This will be similar. The UAir guys feel like they got screwed. Say what you will about why things happened and "it's over now", but you simply can't change the way people perceive things and how they feel about it.
The combined company is going to make tons of money. The General and many DAL folks will be amazed. Your future is so bright, you have to wear shades.
Good song.
Yeah, the airline is going to make a ton of money. The AWA pilot's future IS extremely bright.
The only people you'll get to apply, however, are regional pilots. There are lots of LCC pilots from AAI, JBlu, F9, etc who are applying at DAL, CAL, and preparing for NWA and UAL as they begin hiring because there's a way for them to make back the initial several year's worth of pay cuts.
You won't get those guys applying to UAir; they know they won't upgrade for decades and, if already CA's at those other companies, won't ever make back what they lose by coming over, especially with the long track to widebody CA (if ever).
If there is another merger to be had...I could see USAir gobbling up UAL. Especially if UAL continues to show weakness (loses more money) as USAir builds up more and more cash.
I doubt it. UAir's gobbling days are over,,, until the next downturn, possibly.
Besides, UAL's balance sheet is still WAY too high on the debt side to even consider it.
If anything happens to UAL, it'll probably be purchased and broken up into individual pieces before someone acquires the airline as a whole. UAir may certainly want a piece of THAT pie,,, especially the international routes and widebody aircraft. But then again, so will everyone else.
I still think we're several years away from that road, and UAL has time to turn things around to prevent it.
, AWAC invested in AAA before you guys did and we have a seat on the BOD there still after all the stock that was sold. Since that money came from the pilots shouldn't that mean we get in before AWA pilots? I mean, it's only fair right? Our money came before your money to save the day.
