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Old 04-01-2012 | 01:00 PM
  #94422  
hockeypilot44
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Originally Posted by hockeypilot44
This post is mostly my opinion.

I believe if we have a TA this year, it will have scope erosion in it. EB is making comments about finding "creative solutions" to get rid of 50 seaters that are under contract. I will tell you his creative solution is getting rid of 50 seaters and replacing them with 76 seaters. Here's the problem. The company has completely maxed out the number of 76 seaters allowed. My opinion is the company is going to order some more CRJ-900's to replace 50 seaters. They will say they are only going to put 70 seats in them. They will then go to ALPA if they haven't already and seek scope relief. They will sell it to ALPA as we are getting 717's (increasing the amount of Delta pilots) and actually decreasing the amount of airplanes flown by DCI (decreasing the amount of outsourced pilots). They might even tell ALPA that if ALPA does not agree to it, they will keep the DC-9's or even bring some DC-9's on property to get above the number of mainline aircraft allowing them to bring more 76 seaters on property. Then pull all of the excess planes out of the system while keeping the 76 seaters and imply that they will get more 76 seaters with or without a scope sell. I don't trust ALPA one bit at this point based on their past history. I hope our pilot group as a whole is smart enough to vote down a TA, but we will be under enormous pressure from both ALPA, the company, and the thought of more money short-term.
After reading ALPA's section 1 opener again, I would like to quote myself and stand by the above. Section 1 says we want to "improve balance of flying between Delta and DCI." This means we could allow the company to replace 50 seaters with 76 seaters as long as the ratio is less 76 seaters coming on line than 50 seaters going off line. It also says that we want to "expand furlough protection to include all pilots on date of signing related to permitted 76-seat jets." We are in trouble. I am under the impression that ALPA does not care how much flying is outsourced as long as we do not furlough. In 5 years, furloughing is off the table due to the retirements. In the mean time we could stagnate forever.