Originally Posted by
Bill Lumberg
This is where you are wrong. DL does have a reason to get this done, as explained to a LCA friend by SD, the second round of consolidation is coming up, and they do not want to be negotiating a contract during that time, and they also want cooperative pilots for another expedited SOC, which we happily did for the NWA merger so we could capitalize on those $2 billion a year in SUPPOSED "synergies.". So, we know more mergers will happen, and that can help speed the process along, and be used to increase our compensation, but ALPA needs to work for it, not just give in for the sake of being nice. We pay big money in dues, and I expect results that aren't just "realistic.". I think we deserve a bit more than that. Don't settle please.
I agree Bill. You only get paid what you negotiate and when you're negotiating leverage is everything. Thanks to the RLA, I think there is very little leverage one side can have other than time. And for most airlines it behooves them to drag their feet for as long as possible.
This time around I think time is on our side. So what if we blow past the amendable date? What would we be screwing up, the ability to merge?
Well in that case, I say we don't have to be in a hurry. We should just concentrate on getting this done right.