Originally Posted by
sailingfun
I think his point was the 7ER is underpaid in the current contract relative to other equipment.
As far as the eternal 100 seat jet debate. I have heard all the same things since 1991 when the DC9's were retired. The last 100 seat jet Delta purchased was in 1983 or almost 30 years ago. Management spins up the 100 seat rumors every time something is in play in the contract. The reality is that they don't want a 100 seat aircraft. It wont even be a big issue in the contract. They might open for one at DCI but it will be a throwaway item.
They are on record over and over again as stating they can fly a 150 seat aircraft for almost the same trip cost as a 100 seater so why go any smaller. The consider that the break point on trip costs verses seat costs. They might purchase something in the 130 to 140 seat range if it offered a big jump in efficiency but you will never see a 100 seater.
Not true ... The E175 / 900 is management's 100 seat jet and they have as many of them as we allow. It's trip costs are half of the MD88's. If we are going to upgauge markets like LGA, we need a jet that splits the 100% capacity gap between the CRJ900 and the MD88.
Lets correct your statement:
"Delta's MEC does not want a 100 seat jet on the property, for fear it will dilute the pay on larger airplanes by allowing management a better, smaller, choice to the MD88 sized jets. D-ALPA's partnership with management to outsource jobs and cross collateralize our pay requires outsourcing."
The
made up conflict with Compass which made it necessary for the Delta MEC to boot them obviously was not created by management. The Delta MEC voted to divest those pilots. Of course this followed years of action which allowed more and more outsourcing, further diluting the negotiating power of ALPA pilots who flew those airplanes and lowering the floor on pilot pay and working conditions. Which was preceded by a
made up seniority grab justification to keep ASA and Comair's small jet flying off the property.
The record is absolutely clear on the matter in the form of votes.
I am tired of being lied to about this issue. Management gets a pass since they don't have an obligation to their employees. ALPA doesn't get a pass. ALPA works for us, using our dues, and has a fiduciary duty to us.
Worst of all this scheme has rotted ALPA's core. ALPA can't be unified as long as half of its flying is done by someone outside the control of our Bargaining Agent ... so we water down unity to a form of mindless allegiance and cede our reason for existence; we cede our structural difference with the DPA. The DPA should not be on the property. The DPA should not win. The DPA will not be good for Delta pilots, but if we are going to model Contract 2012 on the last decade's outsourcing scheme, then you've handed them the keys to the place.