The Ninth Circuit’s holding, that the denial of the Nicolau Award in Paragraph 10.h. of the
MOU breached USAPA’s duty of fair representation, is effectively the tie-breaker on this question. With the Ninth Circuit’s affirmation of the West Pilots’ reasonable expectation of the Nicolau Award, the AASPIC acknowledges it as the starting point for ranking the East and West Pilots on the ISL. As part of the ISL, the US Airways Pilots (East and West) should be ordered based on the Nicola Award……the job allocations as between the West and East Pilots must be rationalized according to the Nicolau Award as those pilots compete for jobs with each other for the first time, so that West Pilots achieve their expectations vis a vis the East Pilots.
AAPSIC Pre-Hearing Statement The AAPSIC asserts it is now using the Nicolau Award ISL as the basis for integrating East and West pilots because the Ninth Circuit decision in Addington III was the “tiebreaker.” (Tr. 100, AAPSIC opening statement). As this recitation reflects, however, there was no “tie” to break; the AAPSIC listed reasons why the Nicolau Award was an improper basis for integrating the pilots groups, none of which had anything to do with the West pilots’ DFR claim against USAPA. As already noted, the Ninth Circuit dismissed the plaintiffs’ claim under McCaskill-Bond, so the decision cannot be used for interpretation of McCaskill- Bond’s requirements. Consistent with the position asserted by AAPSIC on June 19, 2015, it remains true that “the Nicolau Award has never been implemented or governed seniority” and the Ninth Circuit did not order that remedy. Indeed, it is illogical for the AAPSIC to assert that it is using the Nicolau Award ISL to integrate East and West pilots because of the Ninth Circuit decision when the East Pilot Committee has not been required either by the USDC for the District of Arizona, on remand from the Ninth Circuit, or this Arbitration Board to use the Nicolau Award as part of its proposal. 19 Sept 2015