Originally Posted by
casual observer
I'm a reserve international F/O living at the base. I'm not going to vote based on what other people think, but I'm open to being influenced by them. My own interests are this: The raise is appealing, the reserve enhancements are appealing. I'm not concerned if a scope issue delays my upgrade to captain, but I would be concerned if there is a credible threat to junior guys being furloughed. I think there is a potential to vote no and work for a better deal. I think it is equally likely that a no vote could result in a delayed, less attractive agreement if market conditions change. I think there is a hard to quantify value to good will. All in all, I think the agreement is as good as our union leadership thinks it could get and entails less risk, because it can be renegotiated in 3 years. I guess the only thing that's going to sway me is the credible threat to the jobs of junior delta pilots.
Thank you for being honest with your background and your thought process. I salute you for thinking out for your fellow junior delta pilots, and their careers. I'm sure you don't need to hear the ideal that scope affects all pilots, senior and junior alike. If you have the slightest doubt, then I don't think we need to continue.
As you said, the only thing that's gonna sway your vote is credible threat to the jobs of you, or your fellow brothers and sisters. Here's some of the points I think about Section 1 in this TA:
The section 1 in this TA is carefully crafted so that it's not a slam dunk for either party by any means. It's a give and take section that you, and you alone have to decide if it's beneficial to you and your career. First of all, are you satisfied that this section isn't doing more to improve our scope?
The company gets:
75 additional 76-seaters. Have you been on one? It has the legs to do almost all of our Narrowbody fleet does, except 737s. It has 2 class seatings, and create much better revenue streams than the 50 or 70 seaters. Do you believe these jets are a credible threat to your career? How large of a fleet of 76 seater are you willing to accept? Do you believe the intent of the company is to replace every single guage RJ to become a 76 seaters or 90 seaters? If that's the case, does our current TA provide the right atmosphere to improve scope in 3 years? Or are we allowing the company to dangle a carrot in front of us once more (this time by B717)? Do you feel the 717 will not come if we don't sign this TA?
What we get in return: a ratio that favors mainline, supposingly bring more flying back to mainline, and also protects us when our fleet shrinks. Do you believe from past experience that this ratio will be enforceable in front of a mediator? Do you believe it could be further negotiated against us down the road? Do you believe this ratio will help us grow, or will it just deter us from shrinking? Do you know the ratio is a snapshot taken not continually, but only in the near future? As you fly in the int'l category, you probably were affected by all the int'l Codeshare that we have with our skyteam partners, aka company farmed out your JFK->CDG layover, out of compliance because of the snapshot isn't until a few years from now. Do you think it could happen with this ratio in this TA?
This is just some of the questions I would ask myself, being skeptical of every single clause. I'm sure others on here can point you to some other "finer" details. But i hope you will continue to educate yourself, and make a decision that you and your family can live with.
Fly safe.