Originally Posted by
Carl Spackler
The SWAPA model is a great one. Adopting their contract IN TOTAL plus 5% for the MD88, and premiums above that based on capacity is a great strategy. The NMB would have no choice but to agree. But instead, ALPA doesn't tell us the truth about the SWAPA contract, and many MEC guys on here issue veiled threats like: "Be careful what you wish for" and "It could cause us to lose the bottom quarter of the seniority list". Why would ALPA do that? Why wouldn't they use this great tool of leverage for our gain, instead of portraying it falsely and trying to scare us out of even discussing it? Furthermore, why would ALPA tell us they couldn't talk about Air France pay when I was able to find it on Google in 10 seconds?
Coming from someone in the MEC bureaucracy, I really appreciate your honesty on the subject of expectation management. It's clear our MEC has been managing our expectations downward. Of that there can be no doubt. It's good to hear of your logic behind it.
That's a shameful characterization of an ad that was taken out to publicize that USAir management tried to pressure 3 A330 captains to fly an aircraft over water that all 3 captains deemed to be unsafe. Your hatred of USAPA because they decertified ALPA should not blind you to the fact that this incident was a PILOT issue, not a union issue.
Only if you are devoted to erecting straw men to argue against an indefensible premise. No union has done anything close to that. Can't imagine why you would make such a blatantly false comment.
Carl
Well Carl, maybe you could come up with a coherent strategy then. You say we need to adopt the SWAPA model. Well what is their model, how did they get where they are today? Back after Delta and United signed our big contracts in 2001, SWAPA was in the middle of a long term deal. The had developed a good working relationship with their management, so they went to them and pointed out how a Delta first officer made more than their captains did. They signed an LOA (or whatever SWAPA calls it) and they got guaranteed raises (I think 3%) along with a chance for a bump based on operating margin (wait, I only thought operating margin was a tool to lower your expectations.) I think they got an additional 4 or 5% if the company did well.
So they did not get a 20% raise, they did not get a 15% raise, they did not get even a 10% raise. They got a series of 7 or 8% raises that when compounded back to back over several years got them to where they are now. The last deal they signed was a three year deal with guaranteed 1% raises with up to 3% based on operating margin (how come SWAPA constantly manages their pilots expectations down by talking about operating margin) Consistent improvement and compounded results that came from a productive cooperative relationship with management.
Gee, that sounds way different than what Delta ALPA is doing right now doesn't it? By the way it looks like we just signed another deal that gained benefits for pilots. Consistent improvement and compounded results. What a terrible plan.