This posting as it relates to dispatch is a bit more complicated than it seems. At the moment, the LUS side of the house has a similar position known as the Airline Network Manager or ANM. One of the things being negotiated in the JCBA is whether this position is going to fall under the scope of the contract or not. (Translation: is it going to be Union or non Union?) Naturally the Union would like to negotiate this position into the agreement. That being said, based on what I have heard about the direction of the negotiations, I think there is a better chance than not that this position will end up non-union. One of the things the company may be trying to do by posting internal is trying to get some of the LUS people on the bridge to put in for the opening. Indeed one person already went over even before the move to the new building was made. It is unclear if anyone else will. That being said this is all up in the air as well.
As far as future dispatch openings go, I would disagree with Flagship on the hiring. I do think there will be hiring not long after a JCBA. The Legacy AA workload is insane, and the FAA is rumored to not be real happy about it. Also, the schedule is going to determine the staffing needs going forward, and depending on the number of hours that end up the JCBA, I could easily see at least two classes by years end. That being said, I doubt any movement will happen prior to a JCBA though, and when that will be reached is anyones guess.