Q: Why can’t there be a penalty to the Air Group if full implementation isn’t done by a said date?
A: Actually, the JNC did achieve an incentive to encourage the Company to keep the anticipated Full Integration date. If the two Flight Attendant groups are not fully integrated by March 2019, all of the L-VX pairings must be constructed using the JCBA work rules (the 10.5 hour duty day and all of the AS rest provisions, etc.). While this will not carry over into the operation once the bid month is active, all L-VX pairings will be constructed using JCBA work rules.
The below language is in the L-VX FA Transition Agreement:
Delay of JCTE
In the event that Full Implementation is delayed past March 2, 2019, then all pairings will be constructed under the provisions outlined in the JCBA in Section 10 [Scheduling]. Additionally, for any pairings created after the initial bid award the Company will make every best effort to construct the pairing in compliance with Section 10 of the JCBA.
This will be a significant constraint on and financial incentive for the Company to integrate on time because it will take more L-VX Flight Attendants to fly a schedule with pairings constructed under the JCBA work rules. The L-VX partition would most likely not have the staffing to accomplish all of their flying if the pairings were built using the JCBA work rules.
The JNC strongly advocated for additional penalties during negotiations to pressure management to achieve the targeted dates. Unfortunately, management would not agree to actual monetary incentives.
Caleb Leo says
“… the Company will make every best effort to construct the pairing in compliance with Section 10 of the JCBA. ”
And how exactly will the Company define “every best effort?”
Jeffrey Peterson (MEC President) says
The JNC has answered this question on the JNC blog: “Every Best Effort [Merger Agreement]“