It might be a simple thing in your mind but it really is a very complicated issue.
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

that the reason for so many double posts is that the Citizen software doesn't pick up a post on the comment lists until you come back to that same sight again!
If you look to see if it posted and it apparently didn't......post again!

If you only hit the post button once it only posts once.

I yam what I yam....Popeye

I'm willing to listen if you have a decent argument!
It appears that the deal has now been lost due to the haggling.
When the layoffs come later, the old guys, who vote against the deal, will be the only ones left working!

Yeah OK. Lets first compare notes with respect to the scope of both contracts and then lets get down to how the integration of both work groups would occur but being particular mindful of who's qualified to fly which equipment. We also need to discuss CRM issues and then which 14 CFR 121 air carrier certification will survive. Are you keeping up? These are a few of the safety issues that have to be reviewed and resolved. It ain't easy and it's why it can't be forced.

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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

Isn't all that the company's business? Aren't they responsible to the shareholders to make such decisions?
Don't they have experts on staff to plan it?
Of course they do, but I am afraid what the union would want would be much more expensive.

In the past, air carriers have "hard" meshed working agreements and results were less than desirable for the company, customers, and the pilots. There are so many dynamics involved. For example a B767 from one airline has a cockpit/instrumentation configuration that is different form another airline. That means crew scheduling has to be an exacting science. Yes there are issues regarding seniority and who flies what equipment and yes this might appear to the casual observer that the union is interfering. But there are safety issues as well.
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

I hear you cyclist, but if crew scheduling isn't a company responsibility to plan and administer, then I don't understand what "management" is!
Since the union does exist, I understand the seniority thing, but doesn't both groups of pilots belong to the same union? That is a pretty obvious fix---You fit in by classification/by seniority!
Yes, there will be layoffs but isn't that the reason for combining to save some money in order to survive and have less expensive tickets?
We are not socialists!

Say airline "b" has highest seniority pilots on B747 equipment but the new combined air carrier is going to retire that fleet. Now how does one integrate that displaced pilot group into another fleet? The current contract with either airline does not deal with this. So the airlines enlist the aid of both unions to work out the details. If the details are not worked out the impending domino effect will cascade through the pilot group and disrupt schedules. Additionally, it will kill the moral of pilot group which is important. BTW, each pilot has to be "type rated" that is trained to a specific aircraft type. This is a very lengthy process.

I've studied and wrote a few papers on airline mergers and the results of a forced marriage. Some like Federal Express and Flying Tigers was a real disaster which brought out many inefficiencies and took years to fix.

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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

No 747s, no 747 pilots needed!
Since they can't fly anything else, well......

Let the corporation do their job. You guys will just make it impossible to keep from nationalizing the airlines someday soon!

Who is to get laid off? Of course, the least senior and the least NEEDED! Seniority is your call! If the two (same) union groups don't have guts enough to decide that, then let the company do it!

Save most of the jobs, quit worrying so much about who flies, when, etc.

You take it from here. "$" thinks that I work in the wheelhouse. I'm turning in for the night. Tampa calls early in the morning.

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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

Wanna trade places? I'll give you three Louisvilles for one Tampa. Perhaps we'll cross paths tomorrow.

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"I'm Pro Choice - On Light Bulbs

I could use a Tampa about now. On my drive to Oklahoma (998 miles at an average ground speed of 78mph) I lost the main serpintine belt in Carbon Hill, Alabama. Google that place . After that three hour delay trying to find a parts store that had the Mellinia belt, I got the good old check engine light on the Cimarron Turnpike (75 mph speed limit). As I pulled up to Vance at 3am, I felt the strong desire to return to my Florida vacation. It was much cheaper than this drive turned out to be!

Kevin "Hack" King

Deep dark depression, excessive misery. If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all. Gloom, despair and agony on me.....

My goodness Hack. You and vehicles lately. Ouch.

Why are you driving and not flying standby? I'll take a stab in the dark and guess that you were driving your new 'older Vette' out to Enid as a replacement for your totaled car. Otherwise, I'd figure you to hitch a fly ride.

As for Carbon Hill..... Goodness, I've made that drive at least 2 - 5 times a year since the late 80's. I don't need to Mapqwest that one. I'm just thankful it's now 4-lane. Back in the late 80's only about a third of the 'Future I-24 Corridor' was 4-laned. It was a nightmare to make that drive and it took a couple of hours longer going through each one of those little towns like Carbon Hill. The night drive was a bear with all the semi's going through every little so-called town with a dozen stop signs.

It's sure nice now. Especially since they opened up that stretch all the way to 78 South of Jasper.

Hey, Do you know where the Seminole exit is?

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"I'm Pro Choice - On Light Bulbs