CJC MEC FastRead - Role of Merger Committee

v1valarob

v1valarob

Well-Known Member
The Role of the Merger Committee By Captain Mark Segaloff

Recently there have been quite a few questions and some confusion about the exact role of the Merger Committee. I would like to take this opportunity to clear up some of these questions and misconceptions.

As Colgan Pilots we are now stakeholders in a corporation that will soon have a seniority list in excess of 3,000 pilots; one single pilot seniority list which will comprises pilots from Colgan, Mesaba, and Pinnacle airlines. Under the ALPA Merger and Fragmentation Policy, the Merger Committee of each airline is tasked with the responsibility to work with their counterparts of the other two airlines to create a fair and equitable conclusion for the integration of each airline’s singular pilot seniority list to form a single newly constructed list comprised of all three airline’s pilots. It is imperative that all three merger committees work cooperatively to create this new list and avoid, at all costs, binding arbitration. Arbitration costs can run in the millions of dollars and the fee will have to be paid by Colgan pilots like you and me. In addition, the last thing we would want is a third party arbitrator deciding our list when they do not have to live on the list as we do.

A very important item worth noting is that when the Joint Seniority List is implemented there will not be any sort of a “bump and flush” bid. What does this mean to you? It means you do not have to fear about losing your seat or equipment to another pilot, you will not be displaced due to the implementation of this new list. This provision has already been agreed to by each airline’s MEC.

Captain Brandon Klock and First Officer Ian Harrison, the two Colgan representatives on the Merger Committee, role is not to ‘fight’ for the interests of the Colgan Pilots as an individual group. Their role is to act as participants to the process with pilots from Mesaba and Pinnacle to reach a fair and equitable solution in the process that accounts for all pilots on all three seniority lists. They are going to bring forward our concerns and let our interests be known but at the end of the day the ultimate goal of the Merger Committee is to construct a single list which will results in a fair and equitable solution for all sides.

Many of our pilots have mentioned the fact that we are continuing to grow with our Q400 fleet while Mesaba and Pinnacle do not currently have any planned fleet growth in the near future. Because of this there are some who feel we should ‘protect the upgrades of our pilot group here at Colgan’. Legally speaking there isn’t any way to guarantee upgrades to a specific group while denying them to another. This reasoning is based on various arbitration hearings throughout the years where arbitrators ruled that you cannot “guarantee” and upgrade based on the sole reasoning that you expected it when you came to a specific airline. Does this mean that Colgan FO’s will lose out on upgrade opportunities in the future? Absolutely not. One of the major benefits of merging seniority lists is to give our pilots more opportunities in the future by having the opportunity to fly different aircraft with the benefit of expanded choices in regards domicile options. The regional airline market changes daily based on the wants and needs of our mainline partners. As mentioned, although there is not currently any future aircraft on order with Pinnacle or Mesaba this does not mean that Delta cannot come in tomorrow and ask them to pick up new flying. At the end of the day we as pilots will have more opportunity.

A point of note, when the three merger committees decide on a method and process to integrate the lists, it will not become official until the Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement is approved. The voting for the Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement will be voted on first and then once it is ratified will the merged seniority list be released. We all want the pilots to focus and stay unified in their attention to ratifying the strongest contract possible.

I know that this is a very touchy issue. What I can assure you is that there will be no windfall for one group, it will be fair and equitable for all groups. What we need from everyone is to stay involved, check your ALPA FastReads for important date of hire validation issues, and stay unified!

Don’t hesitate to email me at Mark.Segaloff@alpa.org with any questions or concerns.

Fly Safe!
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Was put out yesterday.

I personally had alot of questions, and so do alot of our crew members. There are lots of rumors floating around, most negative, about how the integration is going to happen, but after speaking with our MEC, we WILL NOT enter into negotiations with the other airlines regarding SLI until after a joint collective bargaining agreement has been reached. So whatever rumor you have heard, it is not true.

Ill hold back my feelings until after the thread has some movement.
 
Funny. Mesaba gone to colgan new hires have been told that mesaba will be stapled. Obviously our pilots shrug and say I guess we will see but I didn't realize the opposite rumors were flying around too. What an industry.
 
jynxyjoe said:
Funny. Mesaba gone to colgan new hires have been told that mesaba will be stapled. Obviously our pilots shrug and say I guess we will see but I didn't realize the opposite rumors were flying around too. What an industry.
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I'm one of said Mesaba gone to Colgan pilots and was never told anything like that
 
jynxyjoe said:
Funny. Mesaba gone to colgan new hires have been told that mesaba will be stapled. Obviously our pilots shrug and say I guess we will see but I didn't realize the opposite rumors were flying around too. What an industry.
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I would say 9/10 CJC guys believe they are going to get completely screwed out of all this. It's just the general feeling, and hopefully we can squash that.
 
v1valarob said:
I would say 9/10 CJC guys believe they are going to get completely screwed out of all this. It's just the general feeling, and hopefully we can squash that.
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Go to your reps with questions. They will answer honestly and clearly.


^^^^and what Cruise said^^^^
 
PropDriver said:
I'm one of said Mesaba gone to Colgan pilots and was never told anything like that
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Really? Because it's on the Mesaba boards, two guys joking about it.

I would be worried, especially since we are going to get stapled to the bottom of Colgans list. Shouldn't you be studying instead of posting on here?
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Yeah, those two Colgan new hires we talked to sure seemed confident about us being stapled. I'm already updating my resume. And what's studying?
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Obviously no one takes them seriously, as evidenced by the tone of the thread, however it makes funny reading.
 
kellwolf said:
Heh, I'd say most of my time in the crew rooms is spent saying things like "Nope, that's not gonna happen," "That's not entirely true" or "Where the heck did you get THAT one?"
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MSP has calmed down quite a bit after the senior guys found out we didn't HAVE to do relative senority. The words "hybrid SLI" has been like a tranquilizer at this company. I'd say things are much less tense over here than they were in July.

Can't say enough good things about my reps and their dedication to answering questions out here.
 
jynxyjoe said:
MSP has calmed down quite a bit after the senior guys found out we didn't HAVE to do relative senority. The words "hybrid SLI" has been like a tranquilizer at this company. I'd say things are much less tense over here than they were in July.

Can't say enough good things about my reps and their dedication to answering questions out here.
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Saying "your going to be based in MSP in the right seat of an RJ" has replaced "you're headed to PQI for the winter" as the newest possible low.
 
v1valarob said:
Saying "your going to be based in MSP in the right seat of an RJ" has replaced "you're headed to PQI for the winter" as the newest possible low.
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Oh, I doubt anyone at Colgan would be senior enough to hold MSP. Maybe right seat of the RJ or Saab in MEM/DTW.

If it makes the Colgan guys feel better, the overwhelming majority have no desire to be on the east coast. Except for me, I'm gonna come take your bases and your planes. Just me. I'm the Chuck Norris (Tim Martins) of base seizures. I'll have you all out stationed based in GLH by next winter.
 
jynxyjoe said:
Oh, I doubt anyone at Colgan would be senior enough to hold MSP. Maybe right seat of the RJ or Saab in MEM/DTW.

If it makes the Colgan guys feel better, the overwhelming majority have no desire to be on the east coast. Except for me, I'm gonna come take your bases and your planes. Just me. I'm the Chuck Norris (Tim Martins) of base seizures. I'll have you all out stationed based in GLH by next winter.
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I'm sure you are being sarcastic but please watch what you post on this issue. Seniority is near and dear to all of the 3,000 that have to deal with an sli. No group is getting stapled and no group gets elitist treatment. Until we have a jcba getting put to a vote its moot. I would hope that once we have a jcba all will be able to see we are all in this together and everyone is looking out for each other. If every group is protecting each other and guarding themselves the end result will be success. As soon as pilots start trying to take an elitist stance things will crumble into a usair debacle where everyone gets hosed.
 
higney85 said:
I'm sure you are being sarcastic but please watch what you post on this issue. Seniority is near and dear to all of the 3,000 that have to deal with an sli. No group is getting stapled and no group gets elitist treatment. Until we have a jcba getting put to a vote its moot. I would hope that once we have a jcba all will be able to see we are all in this together and everyone is looking out for each other. If every group is protecting each other and guarding themselves the end result will be success. As soon as pilots start trying to take an elitist stance things will crumble into a usair debacle where everyone gets hosed.
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Well I hope the second paragraph is pretty clearly sarcastic. If not, I'll just say it, while I may have an excellent roundhouse kick I am NOT able to seize any bases. I firmly believe, however, Tim Martins and Chuck Norris could.

The first paragraph may be a little misleading but maybe I can clear it up: "MSP is so senior AND highly desired by the folks at this company that no one is going to be forced there." MEM and DTW are, historically, our junior bases.

No idea what would happen if we finally get that SLC base, however. Personally I'm hoping MEM stays a base for something because commuting is for suckers. No offense to suckers.
 
As some others have posted before, please contact your reps with any questions you may have. In order for this to move along, and benefit the masses, we must all be unified. After meeting the reps at the two other airlines a few weeks ago I can assure you they have nothing more but every pilots best interest at heart. They have all shown that they will keep their LEC's informed and will do whatever it takes to answer everyones questions.
 
v1valarob said:
Saying "your going to be based in MSP in the right seat of an RJ" has replaced "you're headed to PQI for the winter" as the newest possible low.
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Here's how we spent today, just one of our miserable 18 days off per month, up in that terrible "low" Colgan PQI base. I'll take it over reserve in IAD any day :) Crew scheduling can't even get a hold of us up here.

Reno's MooseBurger Stand is back in business boys. Call your orders in for the turn.
 

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ajdwings said:
Here's how we spent today, just one of our miserable 18 days off per month, up in that terrible "low" Colgan PQI base. I'll take it over reserve in IAD any day :) Crew scheduling can't even get a hold of us up here.

Reno's MooseBurger Stand is back in business boys. Call your orders in for the turn.
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I actually thought of bidding PQI to build time. But not in the winter, and the logistics of having a car up there, plus either commuting, or moving up there just isnt worth it.
 
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