While all this is going on why not mention that the AMEs in A380 who have now have their licenses are waiting once again as the company and association bicker over what level they are to come in as.
In the current system a conehead who get EIR for their first license gets about 3 levels. I believe the company and union are using the EBA and these new LAMEs as a bargaining tool for the new generation. Since they will be B1 and sign in all 5 categories it would seem fair that they enter the system at the same level as an initial EIR LAME, but apparently this isn't so.
Fed Sec could you expand on this?