Originally Posted by
DeadHead
Ok, I need to flat out ask at this point. What exactly would DALPA have negotiated between DAL management, 9E mismanagement, and the 9E pilot group?
I definitely feel as though the 9E pilot group should have approached us, just out of common courtesy. That being said I'm not sure what our involvement would have added or taken away from 9E's TA. Maybe I'm missing something here (I usually am), but seems as though the only thing that was missed was DALPA having a seat at the table.
Great question. I asked myself the same thing. As a result, I'm not certain that I want to be fully invested in this issue. But, as you said, there is probably a problem with the meet and confer provisions of the ALPA policy. If it was not respected, there should be a remedy, for instance removing our responsibilities to meet and confer in return.
Perhaps an even better question than what we would have done had we been at the table, is simply why we were not at the table in the first place? Do we not have a special relationship going?
One interesting angle on this is that we may actually be helping the company at no cost to us. The permitted flying has not increased as a result of this TA. However, it has made it easier for Delta to deal with a DCI carrier, potentially at a lower cost. Perhaps we are doing them a favor, for another favor in return? Ironically, this helps Delta potentially whipsaw two carriers, but does not necessarily harm the Delta pilots. At least not now.
We must also not forget that these discussions, while not very important with respect to Pinnacle, might be very important when it comes to Virgin Atlantic.