Originally Posted by
finis72
Please don't mix fearful with thoughtful. RA and DL can just step away from this and stonewall us for a long time. The NMB probably will say the company bargained in good faith and we could well be into contract 2015 by then, that is a possibility to a no vote just as getting a better deal if we vote it down is a possibility. What is all this leverage you talk about ?, the only leverage I see is a happy pilot group would probably be more productive for the company in the long run. There is risk in a no vote, there is risk in a yes vote but don't say there is no risk or revert to name calling.
The company was willing to open negotiations early and in an expedited manner. They proclaimed, and it was passed on to us by our chairman that hey wanted an agreesment by the middle of May.
There was much speculation as to why. Now we know why and with the presentation of this TA, they have laid there cards on the table.
They are swimming in 50 seat leases that are costing them money in interest, maintenance, and expenses. The economics of them suck. Boyd has been bringing this to attention now for a couple of years.
Our current contract does not allow relief and now they have crafted a TA that has us solving their problem and adding 76 seat a/c for meager monetary gains that are funded by a reduction in our profit sharing.
The company had the gall apparently to order these extra 76 seat aircraft late LAST year, well before we began negotiating. On top of that, they are trying to dangle the 88 717's as a carrot and proclaim the order is contingent on us ratifying the TA.
Delta has a problem, they need a new contract from us to fix it. That is our leverage and the situation now is diametrically different than in any previous section 6. Rejecting this TA does not automatically mean years waiting for the NMB and a new contract.
Given the companies motivation and needs as compared to the value of the current TA to the pilot group, it is obvious that the company loses more due to protracted negotiations than the pilot group will.