Originally Posted by
sailingfun
There is no talk of a extension just for the record. We are in what can best be described as accelerated section 6. I don't know specifics and I doubt any will be released. I suspect each side has agreed to a hold harmless type agreement. If there is no agreement in the near term then everything on the table will be pulled and we start over with a traditional section 6. I am sure the company is asking for a 5 or 6 year contract and we are asking for a 3 year contract.
Everyone should review the history of contract negotiations over the last 10 years with pilot groups. You may need that knowledge to make a choice soon. I will still be surprised if they reach a accelerated agreement because the gulf between both sides I suspect is grand canyon sized. The union knows that they have the support of the pilot group in search of massive improvements. The company knows they can exploit the process to keep us working under the current agreement for at least 4 years and probably longer based on history.
Sailing,
Smart move by management to manage pilot expectations while isolating the Delta pilots from the other employee groups. Management will appear to have acted in good faith and will leave others with the impression that Delta pilot greed was the reason they don't have the contract they desire.
The only thing management needs in the short term is another scope sale.
A traditional union could stand firm against a scope sale and look like they were best representing their pilots' jobs. But, D-ALPA has already ceded the moral high ground of "unity" by authorizing a scope sale in a form of
"what if we trade what you want (more jets with 737 CASM
), if you give us the political cover of what you don't desire (less 50 seat flying
) and more money." The likely real disagreement is going to be scope on the international end, where both management and ALPA both want exclusive control.
From the outset, it appears ALPA is being strategically out maneuvered, but they are not out of moves by a long shot. To win, they've got to change the political dialogue from money to jobs.
STOP OUTSOURCING OUR WORK! resonates with the public, shareholders, fellow employees and the NLRB better than "Screw everyone, WE DEMAND MORE MONEY." If we make this about jobs, then we get more money by being more productive on more aircraft (and larger aircraft) flown by Delta Air Lines. That's the sort of win / win that will get us a better contract (and more money!).