I agree with all that in theory too. Just to kick the horse one more time though, it wasn't just mean old mainline vs righteous and noble trade unionist regionals. Ken and Dan's side of the fence absolutely saw an opportunity for an epic seniority grab and they went "all in" and played a hand they didn't have.

Their personal view, and I know this for a fact and even doubt they would deny it to this day if you phrased the question carefully, was that once a merger/PID was agreed upon, a staple was the absolute floor that was theoretically possible and DOH was the money shot, but the outcome would, in their estimation, be somewhere in between.

When pilots asked them at PID roadshows (just prior to the RJDC) about going to Delta as a new hire, they were specifically advised against it because they would "likely lose seniority". The PID roadshows had Q&A handouts that specifically stated the same thing in writing as their formal opinion.

The PID then morphed seamlessly into the RJDC and at that point the public statements, verbally and in writing, about how the SLI would shake out stopped but behind closed doors it was exactly the same. And why wouldn't it be, when it was the same guys anyway.

There was arrogance and dropped balls on BOTH sides back then, which is a shame because it was the best opportunity that our profession will ever see with 2 connection carriers doing the vast majority of connection flying, one lone wolf non union connection carrier with expiring contracts and the mainline all with open books, a CEO that wanted a deal and the leverage of at least one strike.

Water under the bridge though. Whatever. So where do we go from here? Unity is crucial, but DALPA/DPA can't involve connection carriers that don't first agree to a 100% seniority prenup up front. Not just day one, but the day before day one. Before the meeting room is even booked to discuss it, there has to be an agreement that no DCI pilot will be senior to any DL pilot in any manner, way, shape or form. There are numerous ways to protect DCI job interests with a master list flow through, staple, double staple, etc by controlling cross bidding/flowing rights and a "lock in" provision for DCI pilots that don't want to move on, "no bump and flush" language and many other solutions. But a prenup on day one that guarantees no DL pilot loses one number of seniority to any DCI pilot is mandatory. If that can not be achieved, DALPA/DPA needs to fix the issues unilaterally.

That said, if DALPA isn't willing, or isn't "allowed" by ALPA natl, to fix scope at the DCI level then we need to pursue a bargaining agent that is.

Have we met and conferred yet? If so, what was said? Will DCI MEC's be privy to DALPA policy and ambitions that DL line pilots will not?