US/AA merger settlement imminent!

[WorldTraveler]

THE most excellent Ramp Rat.

 

[cltrat]

30 yrs should a least get me a "Mr." ramp rat

I stand corrected the highly exalted Mr. Ramp Rat

 

[jimntx]

So, Mr. Ramp Rat ( ), now that we know the merger will go forward, please put on your prognostication hat again, and tell us when you think the merger will be completed.  I don't mean on paper or with the courts.  I mean truly integrated operations of a single airline.  After all, 7 years down the road, US East and US West are still (for all practical purposes) operated as two separate airlines with the same name.
 
I think it will take a minimum of 2-3 years, if not longer.  And, I don't see how merging with an even larger airline is going to settle the pilot seniority issue that has been boiling at US all this time.  Our unions have not been forthcoming about how this is all going to work out.
 
Since the US unions are all AFL-CIO affiliates (with the exception of USAPA), and the gold standard for merging two work groups together--regardless of whether it is a merger or a purchase--is Date of Hire, that also opens up the former TWA employees can of worms--particularly with us flight attendants.  I just don't see this whole thing as going all that smoothly.  What say you?

 

[700UW]

US and HP are one airline except for the pilots, every other group and every other function has been merged.

 

[IORFA]

What on earth does former TWA F/A's seniority have anything to do with the forth coming seniority integration? Just because you brought it up? They are in their spots and their spot will not change. Why is that so hard to understand? What a red herring to try and stir up something that doesn't exist.

 

[737823]

So, Mr. Ramp Rat ( ), now that we know the merger will go forward, please put on your prognostication hat again, and tell us when you think the merger will be completed.  I don't mean on paper or with the courts.  I mean truly integrated operations of a single airline.  After all, 7 years down the road, US East and US West are still (for all practical purposes) operated as two separate airlines with the same name.
 
I think it will take a minimum of 2-3 years, if not longer.  And, I don't see how merging with an even larger airline is going to settle the pilot seniority issue that has been boiling at US all this time.  Our unions have not been forthcoming about how this is all going to work out.
 
Since the US unions are all AFL-CIO affiliates (with the exception of USAPA), and the gold standard for merging two work groups together--regardless of whether it is a merger or a purchase--is Date of Hire, that also opens up the former TWA employees can of worms--particularly with us flight attendants.  I just don't see this whole thing as going all that smoothly.  What say you?

With the IAM involved any number of things can happen.

Josh

 

[700UW]

Once again the master of misinformation speaks.
 
Seniority integration is covered under Federal Law, McCaskill-Bond.

 

[AANOTOK]

Anyone know what happen to those "emails" that were suppose to bring the merger to it's knees?  B)

 

[Kev3188]

With the IAM involved any number of things can happen.

Josh

...and that number is finite...

IIRC, there are ~12 ways for seniority integration to occur while still meeting the covenants of "fair & equitable" under MB...

That said, my guess is either DOH, percentile seniority, and maybe classification seniority (for the ramp) are the only ones that are given any real consideration...

 

[Glenn Quagmire]

Anyone know what happen to those "emails" that were suppose to bring the merger to it's knees?  B)

 
They would have been presented in court had the case not been settled. It is the same with any case that gets settled. What is your point?

 

[AANOTOK]

 
They would have been presented in court had the case not been settled. It is the same with any case that gets settled. What is your point?

A. I'm being facetious, and B. But since you asked, it was pointed out pretty strongly that those emails were gold as far as the DOJ having a case. They were discussed by both sides pretrial and obviously they were not so damaging that they would prevent a settlement. That Glenn, was my point.

 

[Glenn Quagmire]

A. I'm being facetious, and B. It was pointed out pretty strongly that those emails were gold as far as the DOJ having a case. They were discussed by both sides pretrial and obviously they were not so damaging that they would prevent a settlement. That Glenn, was my point.

I get it now. I think those were a shot across the bow, so to speak. 
 
I was one of those saying that the merger would not happen due to the DOJ block.

 

[AANOTOK]

Obviously it was anyone's guess, but I just felt for political reasons and more....it would eventually happen.
 
Anyway, fair enough, Glenn. (Plus, I need some more negative hits, I'm at an all-time high in positive ones) 

 

[WorldTraveler]

so the merger is about politics? I thought the Justice dept. was charged with enforcing antitrust law.

 

[AANOTOK]

so the merger is about politics? I thought the Justice dept. was charged with enforcing antitrust law.

"Politics and more"...
Having said that WT, with all the wealth of knowledge floating around in your head, I'm sure
you're not so naive as to think there weren't any politics involved at all, especially in screwing Delta!