As usual, you left a lot out there. Especially the best posts! Anyway, here is one from a DL pilot that told you months ago that you would lose this:
"Well now that it's done, I'd like to restate what I posted a long time ago...FWIW. USAPA should present the two separate lists that are currently in use. The current west list and the current east list. Does USAPA have the power to present a date of hire list? Yes, but it would be foolish IMO. Nobody could successfully claim DFR by submitting lists that they are currently living with. East pilots would have the victory of never having the Nic implemented, but not the huge windfall of a date of hire list. West pilots would have the victory of not having date of hire jammed down their throats, but not the huge windfall of the unimplemented Nicolau award.
It will be an unwise overreach if USAPA tries to submit anything other than the two separate current lists. It will be an unwise waste of money if west pilots continue to sue for implementation of their unimplemented windfall."
You're not WD on there, are you?