Let me be clear about my opinions. I believe DOH is the correct form of an integration and I believe the Nicolau Award is unfair to the East pilots. The most glaring inequity is Jim Zeigler. At the time of the merger Jim had 17 years and 3 months of continuous service at US Airways and he has never been furloughed. Jim was the most senior pilot on the Salamatt Report who was projected to upgrade - Joe Monda and Ralph Conrad were projected to retire). When the Nicolau Award was released Jim was junior to an AWA pilot who had 3 months of service, was an ALPA apprentice member, and was on probation with the Company.
Who had more influence on the combined business entity and produced more revenue for the merger to proceed? Jim or Dave O'Dell?
I believe most of us realize final and binding is final and binding and USAPA's approach is breaking the union and the membership's promise to integrate pilot groups per the pilot's contract. Do I like this? No, absolutely not. But, because I or some of us don't like this does not give USAPA the right to not abide by every section and every LOA of the pilot's contract.
I don't want to debate this too much longer. I believe within a short period of time Judge Silver will order US Airways and USAPA to implement the Nicolau Award. Shortly thereafter, I believe the new hires, East anti-USAPA pilots, and USAPA's PHX-based pilots will take control of the union and negotiate a new contract that includes the Nicolau Award because they prefer pay and benefit increases for everu US Airways pilots versus violating the likely DJ lawsuit SLI court order or remaining status quo.
Respectfully,
USA320Pilot
