Originally Posted by Pineapple Guy

I've stuck (more or less) to my New Year's resolution to stay off this board, as it was sucking the life out of me. And I don't really intend to change that, but I couldn't help but notice the incredible hypocrisy and double talk coming from many on here. Consider the following:

1. Guys like Carl complained at the time of the merger, that even though hourly rates went up, his pay went down because of the low reserve guarantee. Now that's been fixed, and guys are whining. For a guy currently on reserve and getting 70 hours of pay, moving the guarantee to 80 (assuming an 82 ALV), coupled with the contractual pay raises results in a 29% increase in W2 on 1/1/13! Not too shabby.

You forgot to add, they have one MORE day of short call and now can be flown ALV +15. That's easy math right there, if I work more, I'll make more......

2. ALPA used to say DCI wasn't a big factor because they were only 15% of total ASMs. Guys on this board lambasted that and said its all about block hours; ASMs are irrelevant. Now, ALPA substantially increases the block hour ratio, grounding several hundred DCI jets, and guys say that doesn't matter; it's all about size. So which is it?
It shouldn't be an either/or. I believe the sentiment was "not one more seat/pound/aircraft" under the new section 1.

3. Guys wanted SWA pay on day 1. This contract achieves that, when factoring in the differential DC contributions.

SWA pay is more than an hourly rate. Let's compare equivalent W-2's.

4. Guys hated profit sharing when we traded pay to get it. They said it will never pay off, it's subject to bean counter manipulation, etc. They said SHOW ME THE MONEY. Now, ALPA negotiates a "modest" decrease in profit sharing, while still maintaining the top bracket (20% of all income above $2.5B goes to the employees -- think if AAPL had that!), and you're complaining.

We didn't "TRADE" pay to get it, our pay was taken away under the threat of an 1113c contract, it was a "bone" thrown by the company.

5. Lastly, and most importantly, if you want to know why our "team" of professional airline pilots are not winning this game, look at your teammates. Every time Delta ALPA comes up to bat, we hit a single. Not sexy, the crowd doesn't go wild, but we hit a single and get on base.

You have the right analogy/strategy except you forgot ONE small part. Small ball (multiple singles, etc) does WIN ball games, BUT you have to get a runner across the plate to put a run on the board. Stranding men of base does NOTHING.