USAPA Board of Pilot Representatives
USAPA Merger Committee
APA Board of Directors
American Airlines Group, Inc.
From: Capt. Ken Stravers
F/0 James Rocky Calveri
Re: Seniority Integration Protocol Agreement
Date: January 30, 2014
We are the two former America West pilots who have been serving on the USAPA BPR-appointed Merger Committee tasked with representing US Airways pilots in connection with the pilot seniority integration that will occur as a result of the merger between American Airlines and US Airways, When we became members of the Merger Committee, we made clear that our role on the Committee was to insist that the seniority list established by the Nicolau Award be used as the base US Airways seniority list in any seniority integration with
any other pilot group. Throughout our tenure on the Committee, we have taken that position. Additionally, since discussions with APA over a seniority integration protocol agreement have commenced, we have taken the position that once a single organization is certified as the representative of all New American pilots, that organization should appoint three merger committees - one to represent American pilots, one to represent US Airways (East) pilots and one to represent US Airways (West) pilots.
Unfortunately, the other members of the Merger Committee - all of whom are East pilots - have refused to consider the Nicolau Award seniority list as a basis for any seniority integration. We further understand that those Committee members - without our participation at all - have developed what they plan to use as a US Airways seniority list in a negotiation and arbitration in connection with the American merger. Finally, we understand that on January 29, 2014, the USAPA Merger Committee - over our objection - submitted a response to an APA propose seniority integration protocol agreement that contemplated only two merger committees - one to represent the pre-merger American pilots and the other to represent the pre-merger US Airways pilots, both East and West.
We are writing this memo to communicate to you our view that any such structure, if adopted, will not provide US Airways (West) pilots any meaningful participation in an American/US Airways seniority integration and will insure that the Nicolau Award a.. will not form the basis for the US Airways' Merger Committee's position regarding seniority integration, and B.. will not even be presented to the American Merger Committee in negotiations or to an arbitrator, if there is an arbitration, as a basis for a US Airways seniority list to be integrated with an American seniority list.
Under these circumstances, we want to make certain that an participating entities know that we, on behalf of the US Airways (West) pilots, do not support the proposed protocol agreement proffered by the USAPA Merger Committee. Further, in light of the USAPA Merger Committee's position on the protocol agreement and
on the role of the Nicolau Award in the American/US Airways Merger, we have determined that the Merger Committee is not committed to represent fairly the interests of the West pilots and we can no longer continue to serve on that Committee. Accordingly, we are providing you with 30 days notice of our resignation from the USAPA Merger Committee.
