It is sad so few mainline pilots understand the foundation of the labor movement, the legal structure we collectively bargain in and our history.

ALPA's attorneys make the point that we are not exclusively engaged as pilot labor for Delta Air Lines. They are technically correct. ALPA is the exclusive bargaining agent (not the Delta MEC) and after a decade of fighting ASA and Comair's attempts to get to the table with Delta, ALPA reversed it's position and authorized Comair, then Pinnacle, to also write contracts directly with our parent Corporation.

This is not a legal question. ALPA is empowered to do what they did and within the senior leadership of our union I have little doubt (although I don't know) that they saw these agreements as beneficial to (or at least not harmful) to the interests of the Delta pilots. The law is clear; ALPA can authorize other parties to come to the table and ALPA has done so.

With ALPA we have a great deal of influence (if not control) over this exclusive bargaining agent. We would not wield the same influence if part of an independent union, or M-ALPA. In fact, most regionals would love to see us be gone, leaving them in control of ALPA.

That is not to say we are barred from an exclusive relationship with Delta. If we want that we simply need to negotiate that provision into our pilot working agreement. Doing so is a political decision. Perhaps more pragmatically, we might want to negotiate a provision which reads like our Joint Venture language ... that management will proactively engage our MEC before entering into deals with anyone else. We need to then leave the choice to our MEC as to whether they want to be involved. There might be some ugly negotiations in the express flying world that we don't want to have any part of.

In a perfect World (which I believe we should work toward) ALPA would provide the structure for us to come together with other pilot groups, form a common strategy, and present a single unified front to airline management.

Our MEC's exclusion from the Pinnacle bargaining was a wake up call. We do not want our management striking deals with other pilot groups. Our MEC is taking a look at the issue and IMHO their AHRS is properly aligned.

Some Reps are concerned about the perception that they might be bucking the system to try to establish a sort of contractual "proactive engagement" with Delta management that says the Delta pilots will always be given the opportunity to participate in negotiations which involve Delta system flying. As much as ALPA wants you to lobby your politicians, I implore you to lobby your ALPA Reps and support them ... tell them you want an agreement with Delta Air Lines requiring our engagement when management enters negotiations for Delta system flying.

Our MEC meeting next week may be critical. So Sink, Hawaii and others, be engaged. Write and talk to all the Reps in your council.

We're probably going to see another merger. We know Joint Ventures are going to be negotiated over the Pacific and the Atlantic (at least the English Channel). Now is an excellent time to codify "proactive engagement."