Originally Posted by
slowplay
Channeling Colin Powell per Ferd...
Can you please show me how I've managed your expectations? I've pointed out some facts. I've pointed out some flaws in arguments. I haven't been a cheerleader for strategies that have failed in the past. How does this manage
your expectations when I don't even know who your anonymous webboard pseudonym is?
Turning to your points, it's my view that your reference to TACA is an attempt to paint my use of Unical and Airways as absurd. I disagree. Unical has 17.3% of the domestic US market compared to Delta's 16.6%. LUV is at 14.4% and LCC is at 7.9%. I've mentioned all those carriers in
my responses; together those 4 make up 55% of the US market. TACA isn't on the list. btw, the 4 largest that I haven't mentioned (AMR, B6, ALA, and AAI) make up less than 25% of US capacity.
You believe that the Delta pilots gave up leverage in getting to a JCBA. The record shows that our payrates are over 17% higher because of that
contract, retirement funding went from 11% to 14% DC, and we got stock worth $450 million today. Larger but as you describe dysfunctional UAL/CAL have seen nothing with the leverage that they've been given in the year since their merger. I point out again that a Delta A320 Captain is making $168/hr compared to his UAL peer's $137.
As to going to birthday parties, look at the track record of those that attend parties vs those that don't. In SWAPA's merger brochure with AAI there are references to a collaborative, company supportive relationship throughout the document. They have the highest pay rate in the passenger industry. Some Delta guys went to a party pre-merger...our pay rates are higher than all of
our passenger airline peers except the aforementioned carrier. All those "old-school" tough unions have lower rates of pay. Thoughts?
The problem is you make points around the obvious, that we need and deserve a large pay raise. We can all make points, like lower pay raises may help shareholders, lower raises could help buy more planes, etc. All of those are facts, and you can make as many that you want and they COULD be correct. That's great and all, but you need to start promoting us.
Next you said you don't know who I am, so how can you manage my expectations. How about US as a group. It seems like ALPA is trying to manage our group's expectations, which isn't good if true. It sure seems like it.
Then you repeatedly decide to compare us to Unical and their rates, when I stated that the only thing I like about their movement is their proactive nature in describing what they want in their future contract. It puts it out in the public eye, and keeps those NC people and MEC members accountable. They can't back out conveniently. UAL management also out their wish list out there, and ALPA made a response, publicly. The difference between them and us is that our SOC was fast and rewarded management and hopefully us someday. When will that " someday" be? Yes, we got a 17% raise, but looking back that should have been over 1 year, not 6 potentially. The DC fund was increased, along with stock
given. Those parts are a no-brainer after taking a 47% paycut and loss of pension. We were told $2 billion in synergies, but in addition our continuing lower pay is helping to pay for a lot more. We are a bargain. You compare UAL A320 rates to Delta's. How about future Airtran/SWA 737 rates to ours? How about AF A330 Capt rates? Your thoughts?