iPilot

While I haven't really seen this much myself I don't see how this could be the case anyway. ASA and XJT are fairly close together contract wise and very similar structure. This isn't Republic buying Frontier or even USAir and AmericaWest. I doubt there will be any battles over seniority or contract integration. It suits both parties to use the best of both contracts so I would imagine we'll see a majority of the XJT contract carried over simply because it's factually better in many regards.

I honestly see this being a pretty low-stress merger. Now, if we bring non-union SKW into the mix, that will be an exciting one to watch.

newarkblows

Thats how I am feeling about this one. Of course you will have the people who dont know what they are talking about making impossible claims on online forums but i think the majority of both pilot groups will come together without too much effort. This will be a positive for all of us. Plus it brings our pay back to where it was prior to the concessions. Even if we only get it for a month or two while we hammer out a contract.

newarkblows

double post

blastoff

I agree...just throwing it out there because inevitably somebody will say something and set off one group or the other. You can read between the lines on some of the posts on the Pipe.

cybourg10

If I could draw everyones attention to ASA's contract, SEC 1.E.2 which states:

"The respective pilot collective bargaining agreements will be merged into one(1) agreement as the result of negotiations among the pilot groups and the successor or Company. If a fully merged agreement is not reached within four (4) months from the date a final and binding integrated pilot seniority list isissued, the parties will jointly submit outstanding issues to binding interest arbitration;"

This will certainly play a huge role in our JCBA.

C5Pilot

Could not agree more, were is ASA getting this we are buying XJT, hate to say it but its Skywest money and ASA was told to shut up and color, as we will be doing soon enough right next to them, I for one think this is a good fit for both groups, it could have been Mesa for either one of us! As for a little $$$ to play nice, I think he was saying via pay raises for all of us in a new CBA. No one wants another US Airways mess.

Captain Tony

This really is the problem. Our MEC (past and present) feels that since reserve only affects 20% of the pilot group, and further feel (incorrectly) that the union must cater to the majority, they have virtually given the company total discretion over reserve pilots in exchange for better things for the lineholders. In plain language, they have repeatedly thrown reserves under the bus.

Reserve really sucks at ASA, and one of the worst parts about it is having to call and beg to go home at the end of an assignment. You will almost always be told to "stand by" for an hour and call back, just because they can (totally legal), or if not that be given an extension, most likely into an overnight (unless you have vacation of golden days the next day, that's also totally legal, they'll just take away your day off). ASA Scheduling will flat out tell you that they don't care what the contract says because they know the chief pilots won't back the pilot up, and will make the pilot do whatever they say. All they have to do is tell the CP that you are being "difficult" and that you are causing a flight to be canceled. They have total control.

I hope the joint contract can fix this, if not, any of you on reserve at XJT, welcome to the party. I am certain that it will be our schedulers who stay since they're so good at doing what they do.

Clocks

That sucks. XJT's reserves are automatically released to domicile rest 15 minutes after the end of the pairing if nothing is on your schedule (you can check on the computer, or you call if you want to put a reassignment target on your back).

Captain Tony

It's funny that you threw your own little left hook in by trying to point out that ASA isn't in the driver's seat, then followed up with saying let's all just get along.

It really doesn't matter where the money came from, because it really doesn't matter who is buying who. What matters is what is jointly negotiated, or imposed by the arbitrator (highly undesirable, btw).

Every time a merger is announced, the pilot groups begin trying to one up each other on these message boards, thumping their chests and threatening to steamroll the other group.

Now I said yesterday (and still feel) that the XJT group could steamroll the ASA pilots if they wanted to, simply due to their numbers. They can outvote us on every issue. The ASA pilots on the other can can refuse to play ball and take it to arbitration (after just 4 months!) and burn the place down in the process. Neither of these things are desirable to any of us.

As many have said, the best course forward to all of our job security is to drop the rhetoric and play nice. We do NOT want an arbitration (US Airways). But if it must come to war, you should know that the ASA pilot group is well known for taking it, taking it, taking it until they can't stand it any more, then simply standing up and shutting everything down. Then we're all out of jobs, because one thing you must quickly learn about SkyWest is that they only care about money. If this becomes a money losing operation, they will shut it down and liquidate the assets. Jerry Atkin does not bluff, and does not play games.

So our best course forward it to nip the chest beating in the bud. XJT seems to have the better contract, but a more junior pilot group. Let's build on that and move forward or we're all screwed.

cybourg10

We can't out vote you guys, both groups have to vote 51% on the new contract. We can't and don't want to steamroll the ASA group. As far as seniority, I would be more senior at ASA than XJT with my DOH, at least on the F/O side. This is not going to get ugly between the ASA and XJT pilot groups, it might get ugly between us and management. You guys don't have to worry about us, we are all on the same team now.