Originally Posted by
Wasatch Phantom
Shiz,
Serious Question (for any and all):
Will the next negotiating team again trade larger regional jets (or more of them) for pay rates (admittedly with the approval of the Delta pilots)? Or will they (the negotiating team, and/or the MEC, and/or the Delta pilot group) hold the line on scope? Would Delta buy a 100 seat aircraft in significant numbers if it was operated by Delta pilots?
Curious as to others' thoughts...
Here's what Leo the CEO said to my In Command class, back in about summer of 2001, (prior to 9-11) r.e. RJ's.
The conversation started with him speaking about the importance of Customer Service. It was pointed out to him, by a Captain in the class, that all those Delta RJ's were providing Substandard Customer Service. Many others jumped in, with horror stories about ASA's pizz poor performance down there on Course C.
Leo's answer was, "We know there's a problem on Concourse C, but we can't get any good help for $10/hr. and there's a lot of turnover." etc.
Then someone asked him why Mainline Pilots couldn't be flying the RJ's, and if that would improve the ops. etc.
Leo's answer was, "We can't afford to let you fly them, even if you flew them at the exact same pay rates we are paying ASA's Pilots, because Delta pays you a 30% override for your health and retirement benefits."
So...what's changed since 2001?
Well, we went bankrupt, our pay has been slashed back to 1996 levels, we lost our retirements, and we pay a bunch out of pocket for our medical insurance, so we must be more 'cost competitive' with the RJ pilots today, than we were then.
In fact, I think that's part of the reason you are seeing the 50 seaters go away, and we are getting the 717's, because we are more cost competitive at that end of the scale. Will we as a group vote to outsource the 100 seater? I'm betting we aren't that stupid, but I've been wrong before on scope sales, too many times, unfortunately.
