Originally Posted by
Check Essential
I'm not so sure, Carl. History says otherwise.
ALPA keeps giving away scope and selling it with enhanced furlough protection.
Remember Moak's grievance settlement that allowed the extra 76 seat jets?
That was a straight up deal to give the company another 26 large RJs in exchange for more no furlough language. It was just 2 years ago.
Here's the settlement, lest we forget:
• The Company will agree to the Association’s interpretation of Section 1 B. 40. d. and e. but (ALPA) provides a one-time exception to this interpretation allowing the Company to operate up to 153* 76-seat jets so long as the Company does not furlough any pilot on the integrated system seniority list as of February 9, 2009, the date the agreement was signed.
...
• If the Company does furlough any pilot on the Integrated System Seniority List, then the Company will physically remove six passenger seats from the number of 76-seat jets (in service, undergoing maintenance and operational spares) that exceeds the authorized number of 76-seat jets under the Association’s interpretation of Section 1 B. 40. d. and e.
The company knew there wasn't going to be any furloughs. So what's the bottom line? They got their 26 extra DCI jets and what did we get? Another no furlough clause.
Your understanding of that agreement is highly flawed.
First we were not sure we could win in arbitration. Felt it was 50/50 at best.
Second the companies fleet plan would have allowed those jets before we could have ever reached a arbitration award. Even if we had won the jets would then have been permitted under the fleet plan since they were taking delivery of additional mainline jets.
If we went to arbitration even with a slam dunk win there was little to be gained for the pilot group. We probably would have been awarded some financial compensation.
Had we lost in the arbitration then there would have been a lot of damage and going forward we would have been subject to the company's opinion on that section. That would mean more 76 seat RJ's allowed for the duration of the contract if not longer.
I have spoken to many pilots who opposed that agreement. Those that took the time to actually read what was going on and understand it to a man agreed that Dalpa handled it well. The one comment from a real Dalpa hater summed it up. I don't like the agreement but I understand it and it was the smart thing to do.