Originally Posted by Jabberwock

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!).