Originally Posted by Professor

Denny, I know this. We all do. That is not the point.

You may know that we don't vote on a merger but that's not what you said. Not trying to get into an argument over this, it's fairly trivial. I was just pointing out we don't get a vote on whether to merge or not.


The point is that we could be looking at a rolling window of 'smaller' consolidation that keeps pushing a meaningful contract improvement farther and farther out.

Only if we, as a union, allow it. I reeeaally don't think this will happen. Section 6 is too close for little pi$$ant improvements.

Respectufully, however, I take issue with the tone of your statement,"...we do not have a choice..." In fact we do. We use our ability to vote down contract after contract and refuse to allow the company to completely have its way, again.

I disagree, we don't have a choice on whether we merge or not. See above. We can exert influence with management prior to the decision if they let us know it's in the works but the choice to merge is not up to us. US Air is a perfect example out there illustrating your strategy and they are the lowest paying major out there with no resolution in sight. I don't want that to happen here. If you think the "tone" of my posts is that I will give in and take a inferior contract/deal just to help the company out with a merger, you are sadly mistaken. We need to have a complete revamp/re-negotiation of our contract with VERY significant improvements.

The JCBA was a sweetheart deal for the company. Absolutely!! We are nearing section 6 openers and the UAL/CAL merger drags on, SWA/AAI is nastier than anyone thought a merger in the 'happiest place on Earth' would be; and Airways will continue to fight imaginary enemies like the lost Japanese warrior on the desert island. DAL has seen HUGE synergies and operational advantages no other carrier has, thanks in no small part to our willingness to help.

You will get no argument from me with the above.

It is time to repay the pilot group for that help as well as for saving the airline in bankruptcy.

This is MOST DEFINITELY the case. No ifs, ands, or buts.

Another merger move muddies our position and dilutes the leverage we have as a group, because the integration, infighting (potentially) and simply time to complete another consolidation.

Be that as it may, if the company decided tomorrow to announce that a merger deal had been made, we have no choice but to deal with it. Dealing with it can go 2 ways. We either support it or fight it.

By talking about these things here, in the cockpit and in the lounges is vital to exuding a sense to the company that while we will not burn the place down, we will, as per the Railway Labor Act use every available means to arrive at what we believe to be fair and equitable. All the way down to the 'nuclear option'.

No argument from me.

When the enemy believes you will use The Bomb, the game changes. I'm not saying we need to be overtly militant, agressive or even unfriendly towards the company.

Again, no argument from me. If it becomes necessary to use the nuclear option, so be it.

What I am saying is that we have to make it crystal clear that a merger, in whatever shape, will not distract us from getting an industry leading contract. If they want additional consolidation to solidify the West, fine. But they aren't going to get a sub-step up in contract like they did w/ the NWA/DAL merger. Yes, different time in history and different place.

I absolutely agree. No interim contract like the previous JCBA. We need a full renegotiation. It was never my point to suggest otherwise.

And finally, I understand your point about the US Air debacle. But there is nothing that says that during our merger, we all couldn't have voted down one JCBA after another until we were put into mediation. The deal wouldn't have gotten smaller...and the loss to the company in not having a unified fleet would have multiplied exponentially as time went on.

You are right. We all could have voted it down time and again but we didn't and that's right back on us.

But what do I know, I'm just a pilot.

Same here!