This is important to address because it will be the exact scare tactic used by the MEC administration to get the reps to fall in line. There is nothing in our current language to "protect our flanks" from any additional abuse by JV's or code share. If this tactic provided DAL more profit capability, DAL would want to keep this current language as long as possible. They're not...because they've likely reached diminishing returns with the JV/code share outsourcing strategy. What DAL currently cannot do is outsource additional 76 seat jets without getting us to change our already pathetically weak language.

Classic negotiations. Threaten something you have no intention of doing (because it makes no economic sense), to get your adversary to willingly accept something that will damage them far worse.

We shouldn't be worried about living with our current language for a few more years while we get scope language closer to SWAPA under the auspices of the NMB. We should be far more worried about agreeing to larger jet scope, then living with that language for the duration of the new contract plus 5 more years while management drags their feet.

Carl