Allegheny-Mohawk is very general in nature. Bond-McCaskill requires an integration to be "fair and equitable," but nowhere does it specify what that entails, and neither do the Allegheny-Mohawk LPPs. The LPPs lay out a process to be followed which is extremely similar to ALPA Merger Policy, but unlike ALPA Merger Policy, the LPPs never give a list of priorities and guidelines to be followed. What exactly is "fair and equitable?" DOH? Ratio? Career expectations? Who knows? This could shape up to be an arbitration nightmare.
With that said, I've spent some time this evening looking through the RAH contract in-depth for the first time. Thankfully it's the most well-written IBT contract I've come across. I'm not sure who they used for the scope counsel, but based on reading it, it seems almost certain that it was written by outside counsel and not by Mr. Sowell. That's a good thing. The language is pretty all-inclusive, and LOA #5 seems to do a decent job of binding "Holdings" to the agreement. If Bedford thinks he's going to be able to get out of the scope protections, I'm not sure where he's seeing his loophole. I'm certainly not seeing one. I do doubt that he intends to actually merge the lists, though, so I wonder whether he's already worked out some sort of backdoor deal with the IBT that hasn't been made public yet. What are the Bylaws provisions in Local 747 for ratification of LOAs? Do the members get to vote if scope is modified, or does the EXBD get sole discretion?
Lots of questions on this one, but I've got a really bad feeling about where this is heading.
Believe it or not, Sowell did write the scope. That's from a guy that negotiated the contract. Probably the only decent thing the man ever did.
BB already tried to sidestep the scope and was denied. You know he's real smart, but he can't outsmart the scope. He's tried for 6 years (I know of 2 attempts stymied)
Besides the scope, here's the one other thing I like about Teamsters, at least the 747. LOAs must be voted on by the general membership, which is why the J4J agreement at the other USAir ALPA represented Expresses which granted super-seniority and Captain seats and privileges that the underpaid and over worked pilots of those carriers didn't enjoy was not approved in that format at RAH.
I must take to task the last paragraph. Look at AirTran and the success they've become. You work there, you should know. It wasn't always where successful people went. Like Midwest (Express - at that time) and Frontier, that's where people went to get jet time when all the commuters flew props so they could move on to TWA, AA, UAL or where ever. Over time, AirTran has improved itself to a respectable job. I don't see why anyone writes off a regional to do the same thing.
Everyone hails the CoEx contract, but prior to that, they weren't setting the world on fire. ComAir was the hot one. And of course, AWAC held its ground as they kept getting smaller and smaller.
It's all a cycle, a growth, and evolution. It's time for the RAH pilots to stand up.
I don't write all these posts because I think RAH is the best place to work or whatever. I mean I left. However, alot of the posts I see are based in absolute hogwash with no basis of fact, or any humility from people who have worked for a carrier for under 24 months and don't realize that 36 months prior to that, the carrier wasn't worth working for.
Change doesn't happen overnight. Positive change sure doesn't. This website is all about "paying it forward", and what I see alot in the "Airline Pilots" forum is not that. Instead of working together and exchanging ideas to improve, it's a wang measurement convention. Guess what? All the airlines, at one time or another, were total crap to work for.
People gush about WN and FL, but I'm young and I remember when they were the equivalent to what Allegiant is now. (Of course, WN has always taken a unique tack towards its employees).
Let's support the RAH guys as they happen to work for the regional that's changing the industry.
This can go one of two ways. It can elevate the pilot group to earnings and QoL they demand and deserve, or it can turn into a hard scrabble work place.
I know where the defeatist attitude will take it. At this juncture, it's clear. BB is a magical businessman. However, he's not in it to make life better for the employees, only to make money for the share holders. It's time everyone supports the RAH guys and encourages (not berates) them to get the contract they deserve.
We never know what airline is next on the growth or chopping block.
