Why did I get a bad feeling reading the DALPA Chairman letter today? Is it just me or does this cleverly worded letter have scope sale (ie more large RJ's) written all over it?

"Important components of maintaining that momentum going forward will include, among other things, the refinement of Delta’s long-term business plan and the rationalization of Delta’s fleet. Therein lies the opportunity. In any negotiation, both parties typically have wants and needs. The Delta pilots have clearly expressed through the contract survey, and through contact with their local reps, the issues that we need to have addressed during these Section 6 negotiations. Likewise, management also has issues they’d like to address. Your MEC believes that by addressing each other’s issues and seeking mutually beneficial solutions in a rational manner, we will not only return immediate and ongoing value to the Delta pilot group, but also forge a path to significantly increase mainline flying through an increase in pilot block hours—and importantly, the ratio of pilot mainline to non-mainline block hours. We believe this approach is consistent with Delta’s long-term fleet plan and is in the best interests of the Delta pilots and Delta Air Lines.

Pilot mainline block hours, perhaps more than any other metric, are a direct measure of Delta pilot jobs. While neither the MEC nor I are at liberty to discuss the many detailed moving parts of the current negotiations at this point, I will say this: The time to capitalize on opportunity is now, but that opportunity is also fleeting."