Excuse my delayed reply I have been out flying.
If I recall correctly the only merger of pilot seniority lists in the USA to go true date of hire was Frontier/Central who merged back in 1967. All other pilot mergers have used a methodology other than true date of hire.
Current ALPA merger policy in the ALPA Administrative Manual, Section 45 – Merger and Fragmentation Policy, Part 3 4.e that applies to the CAL/UAL pilot integration of seniority lists if it takes place states:
“The merger representatives shall carefully weigh all the equities inherent in their merger situation. In joint session, the merger representatives should attempt to match equities to various methods of integration until a fair and equitable integrated seniority list is reached. Factors to be considered in constructing a fair and equitable integrated seniority list, in no particular order and with no particular weight, shall include but not be limited to the following:
Career expectations
Longevity
Status and category.”
Many other factors certainly will be presented and considered by the parties participating in the CAL/UAL merger process.
If the two merger committees cannot reach a combined seniority list then mediation with the aid of a mediator will the first attempt by the CAL/UAL merger committees with an outside party/parties to produce a combined seniority list. Should that fail binding arbitration to produce an integrated seniority list takes place.
Any attempt by me or anyone to predict the final decision from the above merger process would be pure speculation.
I cannot speak to the DAL/NWA integrated pilot seniority list other than to say the process is completed and the combined list is currently in use.
Last edited by Shemya; 23rd July 2010 at 12:29.