Originally Posted by Wasatch Phantom

Bar,

I think it's fair to say each of us has our own definitions of what is an acceptable, versus an unacceptable, TA.

I also think it's also fair to say many Delta pilots are very concerned about DALPA's communications (more correctly the lack of communications).

Several forum members have argued persuasively for DALPA to communicate their contract objectives, such as restoration of payrates, reigning in the Alaska codeshare (abuse), improvements to scope, etc, etc. But there hasn't been a defining mission statement at all.

Perhaps this isn't fair, but my opinion is their communications seem to be about managing pilot's expectations (lower).

Again this is historical, but the spectrum has typically been defined by the company at one end, with DALPA at the other end. The pilots in general would be somewhere in between.

However just like an inverted yield curve, it seems we have an "inverted spectrum" with the company at one end, the Delta pilots at the other end, with DALPA in between.

I honestly don't know if DPA could negotiate a better contract than DALPA. I am concerned about setting low goals and I'm very troubled by DALPA's processes. ACL and others frequently post about "change from within". If there has been any change, it is at an unacceptably slow pace.

I do believe that DPA would do a better job of communicating with Delta pilots. I also believe their mission would be to further the interests of the Delta pilots, and only the Delta pilots, without the conflicts of interests (potential or otherwise) at ALPA National.

Further, while the ALPA supporters tout the resources at ALPA National that are available to us, I am very underwhelmed by their performance. Our contractual language has left several loopholes that the company has exploited. If ALPA National's attorneys are so wonderful, why do these loopholes exist? Yes they can be closed, but we will spend negotiating capital fixing the mistakes created by ALPA National's attorneys. Quite simply that's unacceptable by any standard.

So when DALPA supporters say "Trust us, we know what's best..." I, like many others, am very skeptical.

I'm approching my mid-fifties. I can't afford (another) mediocre contract.