Originally Posted by Scoop
ALFA,
I voted yes on the last contract but it is not all peaches and cream here at DAL. Yes we had a 41% advantage in pay rates, and yet CAL 2005 hires are making more than late 90 hires at DAL because 2005 hires at CAL can hold 757 CAPT. Ditto for Hawaiian with many post 2000 hires holding CAPT. Post 2000 SWA Pilots are making more than DAL Pilots hired 10 years earlier.
Pay rates are only half of the equation - progression is the other half. We may be doing good (relative to BK rates) in pay, but we are a big fat "Fail" when it comes to progression. Hopefully it will get better soon but for many guys it may already be too late.
I believe DAL is in a very good position in the long term but the bottom half of the list have been stagnating for well over 10 years.
Scoop
Originally Posted by
finis72
Scoop, I agree with most everything you posted but I have a few questions: Do you think DALPA caused the stagnation ? Do you think the fact that we had 2000 or so pilots leave because of loss of pension/ bankruptcy and their replacements then hit age 65 stagnation and a flat economy contributed to this stagnation ? How about the merger and the synergies with subsequent loss of flying ? I would add that I think the whole seniority list has stagnated the last five years but as always the junior dudes get hit the hardest.
Of course scoop does not believe DALPA caused the stagnation. That is a product of many events. But the rosy picture that DALPA painted concerning this contract does not appear to be coming to fruition as of today at least, in regards to manning the 717, the amount of retirements or the implied intent that Delta would actually replace retired pilots with new hires.
I readily admit. I thought based on what I was told DALPA that we would need to hire pilots to staff the 717 and that with the early retirement program we would see some progression and hiring. My bad.
I will also admit that stagnating as a 777 capt would probably not bother most of us to much. Or actually any capt position for that matter.
Yes the JR guys are ****ed because they have been junior for 13-15 years and are still another decade away from cracking 6000 on the seniority list. No ones fault just reality that makes for interesting conversation and good sports *****ing.
This is what my Capt told me yesterday. "You may not realize it but being a Capt for an additional 5 years has really helped me financially, I know that it has not been good for you but the airlines is all about timing". Very accurate statement.