May 19th, 2005.
On that date the West bases were not shrinking but expanding, while the east bases were definitely shrinking. On that date a contract was signed that would facilitate the merger, a transaction that stopped the shrinking east from going away entirely.
As you point out, it is this same contract that requires a ratified CBA in order to use the results of the seniority integration that it mandated.
The reason I feel justified in using the term steal, is because the east is intentionally delaying the implementation of the joint seniority list , while reaping the benefits of the merger that benefit them. Nicolau got it right. The merger favored the east much more than their West counterparts. Now the east is trying to reap the benefits of the merger, while not paying the price for it happening in the first place. usapa wants to have its cake and eat it too. Actually, usapa want to have its cake and steal the West's cake by harming the West with a unilaterally imposed seniority scheme.
Plain and simple theft of jobs.
Then the scab Ray has the audacity or ignorance ( I haven't figured out which yet) to tell the media at the CLT picketing event, that it is the company that is delaying a joint contract. This scab may have tried to steal a CAL pilots job, but he ain't getting mine.
May 19th, 2005. The last date the West will ever trust the reneging, job stealing east pilots.