Originally Posted by
Carl Spackler
Now I'm with you. I knew I was missing your main point.
Unfortunately, the way I read our JV language, I don't think we have a strong case for receiving any compensatory damages for flying lost prior to the measurement date of March 2014. The arbitrator would likely only give us a fix going forward.
This totally depends on how ALPA allows DALPA to fight this grievance. Any and all funds/legal assets would come from ALPA national. One choice of ALPA's would be to negotiate it away directly with management without any DALPA input. Another would be for DALPA to purposely put forth an extremely weak case and try to lose in exchange for a strategic promise from management. Yet another possibility is for DALPA to claim our language is too weak to even grieve (like the RAH scope abuse).
In order to win this, we would need a strong response from ALPA national showing anger at the number of jobs lost by Delta pilots and commit the full legal resources of national to defend the language and accept nothing other than full compliance immediately. It will also require DALPA forcing management to do something they absolutely don't want to do. What do you think our chances are of getting these responses from ALPA/DALPA?
Carl
Here's something I've been thinking about ever since the "Early Contract, Golden Opportunity", you know, the one where Richard traded us 4833 with upcoming record profits, in exchange for the 717's and parking the 50 seat RJ's, ie. all of which was going to happen regardless...
What If...
Richard is going to now trade DALPA the much fabled Wide Body Order, for JVTA and NRT Slot relief?
It'll sound something like this:
Hey guys, Richard says we can't make money flying X, Y and Z...but if we give him Scope Relief (again) he will order 12 more A330's, to fly A, B and C!!
Hoo Ray! It's Win Win! Again!
Seems to me that Richard has never wasted an opportunity to trade the corporate long term plans to DALPA, in exchange for more scope relief.
I mean heck, if they are going to do it anyway, why not tell DALPA the whole deal rests ON THEM capitulating...something, right?
What's the worst that could happen?
Has DALPA ever said NO to...anything Richard threw at them?
So, I expect we will give all the JVTA and NRT slot relief necessary, and as soon as we do, Richard will announce the Wide Body Order....
Just don't be surprised when you find out this big Wide Body Order is really 767ER replacement jets, something they were going to have to do anyway.