It would be wise of usapa to take Clear's advice.
He is just relating the reality of the situation that the east refuses to understand, both in the LCC merger and a future LCC/AMR merger.
The Nic does not devastate any east pilots career expectation when all factors are considered. No doubt the Nic shatters the east expectation of leapfrogging from furloughed to captain seat at the West's expense, but that was never going to happen.
Another thing. The top West pilots on the Nic are also the closest to retirement, but none of them were flying when Clear was born, just like no AMR pilots were flying when Clear was born. You understanding of the demographics are grossly overexagerated.
Bottom line, the APA would seek to move the entire LCC list (i.e. the Nic) as far down the AMR list in an integration. The wise thing for usapa to do would be take the Nic, and as the 9th said " bargain for all USAirways pilots, both east and West" for the fairest treatment of all LCC pilots.
If usapa tries to go in with 3 lists, the east is going to get hammered, and the West will be right there getting hammered with you, but will gain in relation to our east counterparts relative to the NIc.