Originally Posted by
ualheavy
My personal opinion on the UCAL scope issue is that "the toothpaste (RJs) is out of the tube and there is no putting it back in" for the 50-70 seat variety of RJs at UCAL. Any RJ above the 70 seat version should be flown by mainline period. Use ratios and hard caps to limit the overall RJ effect on mainline flying (much like what your TA proposes). I'm concerned about JV's and widebody flying being siphoned away from us by other Star alliance carriers (Aer Lingus and COPA comes to mind) and we need lots of contract help in these areas going forward post-merger.
CEO Smisnk has made it known he wants 90 seaters and have them outsourced. I'm sure he is using USAir and AA's bk proposed scope arguments at the negotiating table to try and win his case before the NMB.
As far as Delta's TA for scope, it seems like a nice solution to reduce overall RJ airframes and seats, add mainline 717's, and provide your metals customer the 1st class cabin that they seek for upgrades. UCAL sucks in this area and I'm sure we have lost many customers to you because of this.
A really important point for you UCAL gentlemen to remember is that scope is an impermissible topic for the NMB to discuss on the path to self help. Smisek can make his "case" all he wants to the NMB, but they will politely remind him that any
changes to scope must be mutually agreed to by both sides. If both sides cannot agree, then status quo scope must prevail and the NMB can release both sides. If you guys wanted to reverse outsourcing (which requires a scope change), the NMB couldn't allow you to use the self help weapon for the topic of scope.
This wrinkle in the law gives you a powerful tool against management, because they have no power at all to influence the NMB to see scope their way unless the pilots also agree. All you have to do is not agree to any changes to your scope and the company is powerless to
change your position through NMB exertion. If your TA contains any new outsourcing, it can only occur by you agreeing to it.
Carl