Originally Posted by
DAWGS
I had opportunity to get to know JM many years ago. He is a top notch individual. I must say I don't understand the vitriol for a man who negotiated the highest paying contract in airline history for our group. Whomever he supports has no bearing on his accomplishments (alpa/dpa). I wish we had more like him now working for us. My own personal feelings are he was shown the door once he wasn't willing to give anymore. Gave-indeed he did. I feel I would have done the same with the knowledge at the time. Those are tough decisions when your company is at stake.
When our company was making billions, JM got the job done. And yes others deserve credit too. I do know through our conversations, he was very level headed and felt the pilots deserved their rightful due. Today's ALPA leaders haven't even defined rightful due for our group. He produced big in good times. Can the current ALPA do the same? When we are making over 1B a year, that's good times!
I too have great respect for JM.
With the benefit of hindsight, contract 2000 was negotiated as the economy was heading downhill. The Delta pilots had also labored under a contract, known as POS '96, which was a very concessionary contract. I would say the general mood of the pilots was one of great expectations, particularly after the United pilots negotiated a strong contract.
So while the financial burden of Contract 2000 started having a deleterious effect on earnings right away, part of that was because of the economy itself.
Yes, JM was also MEC Chairman during the givebacks prior to bankruptcy. And, again with the benefit of hindsight, Delta was bleeding pretty badly for quite a while prior to those huge givebacks. But a historical perspective is insightful:
Shortly after POS '96 was ratified Delta started making money in a big way. Then Leo Mullin replaced Ron Allen as CEO and DALPA approached him about mid-contract pay increases. Leo's response was the (in)famous "No, a contract is a contract". So with that background, and with the funding of "bankruptcy proof" pensions for a select group of senior executives (as Delta was hemorrhaging money), when Delta approached DALPA about concessions, how do you think that went over?
However my recollection during all of these negotiations is that the various offers by the company and DALPA were in large part communicated to the Delta pilots.
My personal opinion is there is a GREAT deal of mistrust of DALPA by a significant percentage (indeed, if not the majority) of Delta pilots. (The whole FPL cover-up issue gives them cause to feel this way.)
If DALPA chooses not to communicate with the membership the various offers and then offers a lame tentative agreement with the "...this is the best we could do" excuse... that may be the end of DALPA.