March 14, 2013
Dear Fellow United Pilots:
Another impediment is the protracted use of ISL-based arguments well beyond any sense of reasonableness. This is preventing all 12,000 pilots from enjoying the full benefits of the UPA. The two Merger Committees have completed their 100 days of negotiations with no results. They will begin arbitration proceedings on April 15. That initial week of arbitration will include opening statements by both United and Continental Merger Committee counsels. The CAL Merger Committee will then begin presentations of their entire "direct" case. The arbitrations are scheduled on the following dates:
April 15-20
May 11-15
Jun 11-13
Jun 18-20
Jun 27-28
The United Merger Committee will begin its direct case May 11. Post Hearing Briefs are due by July 25. The arbitration will be in Washington D.C., and we will keep you updated on the specific location as the proceedings are public.
We all recognize the importance of the single seniority list - it will last for the rest of our careers. But the seniority list will be what it is, and no one can predict its outcome accurately enough to make assumptions prior to its implementation. The Merger Committees and their respective counsels will make their arguments, and a three person arbitration panel will compile the list. We all wish the ISL was complete and that we could move forward as one Pilot group under single representation. Any pre-ISL scheduling of training, assignments, awards, or other seniority based activities that occur post-ISL (which is expected in late August) is a usurpation and perversion of the ISL and a myopic view of the longer term issues facing our 12,000 pilots. The United MEC is only interested in equitability for all Pilots.
Mergers are not easy. No one can deny that the United and Continental Pilots are coming from very different histories, cultures and interests. But the merger has brought us together nonetheless and we have truly learned that 12,000 strong is better than a divided house. History has shown that divided pilot groups do not fare as well as a unified pilot group. Building and maintaining relationships is not easy but we have to overcome our distrusts, suspicions and differences for the benefit of our entire Pilot group. We must resist any efforts that will result in lingering ill will between Pilot groups as that does not help us in our mutual goal of securing the best benefits possible for our collective pilot group.
Let's get the ISL completed and move on; but let's not create problems beforehand unnecessarily.
We are United,
Captain Jay Heppner
Chairman, United Master Executive Council
