Cunningham v. Air Line Pilots Ass'n, International

EASTERBROOK, Circuit Judge.

After United Air Lines and Continental Airlines merged, forming a new United Airlines, they needed to produce unified seniority and longevity rosters for pilots. The process was contentious; any improvement in the position of one carrier’s pilots meant a relative demotion for pilots coming from the other carrier. A single union, the Air Line Pilots Association, represents all of the pilots and had to work out many contests internally.

In December 2012 United and the Union reached a collective bargaining agreement that sets each pilot’s pay based on three principal…