netjetwife said:
It could get interesting if they try to close a domicile and then wanted to reopen it at a later date. There is that matter of seniority governing domicile assignment.
Didn't they originally start out with just a few gateways? I think some people are hoping the company will figure out that there are lots of cities that would make good domiciles. If they don't, it can be pointed out to them at the bargaining table. I can't imagine it not being an issue, even if it's not at the top of the list.
What many pilots, and non-pilots at NJA or planning on coming to NJA seem to misunderstand is this concept of "closing" domiciles. The company does not have to close a Domicile to eliminate new hire pilots from "getting" to use them. On any given pilot, on any given class of pilots, the Company has sole discretion as to which of the 5 current domiciles are offered. In fact, the Company doesn't have to tell a new hire applicant, until THE OFFICIAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT, which Domicile he will be assigned to, and expected to report to. The "Closing" of a domicile is not likely! Why? Because if the Company elects to close a domicile, all pilots assigned to that Domicile become HBA pilots, with rights to scatter to wherever they want. They can open new Domiciles, or I suppose, open a "Closed" Domicile back up as a Domicile, but even then, all those currently living withion 90 miles would retain their ability to leave to an HBA, and only new hires would once again be required to use such a Domicile.
CLOSING of Domiciles is very unlikely, and as I said, not offering a specific Domicile to a new hire applicant is completely within the Companys rights under the CBA. If they need 20 Falcon pilots and figure they need them in the East, because of existing crewing locations, then they can only offer TEB if they wanted to. That was the whole point, to control the staffing at each Domicile. Currently, out of the "goodness of their hearts", they are informing applicants early in the game, or even letting them provide their dream list of Domiciles, but this is not required. Clearly it is in their interest to know that a new hire has read and understood the Domicile rules and that they allow, as early as posible, for an applicant to tell them that they will not come to work here if they have to go to X. So, I expect it will continue. The rumors of which Domiciles are "closed" is just that, rumor. At best, it was fact for a specific applicant on a specific date, as no Domiciles have been closed.
That said, the new CBA based by a comfortable margin so that should tell you that most of the NJ families thought it was fair and are satisfied. They voted down the first pathetic TA by over 70% so that tells you just how fair they thought that offer was. Fairness isn't as difficult to judge as you seem to think.
I'm sure they will stop well short of that number! I would guess there are at least 300-400 pilots out there willing to use the 5 domiciles this year.
