Originally Posted by
Pineapple Guy
As much as I respect Bucking's knowledge in many of these areas, he's yet to show me how the Pinnacle agreement is any different than the agreements signed in previous years with ASA, Comair, Chataqua, Skywest etc.
Pineapple Guy,
The difference is that the Pinnacle Bridge Agreement:
(1) Is executed directly labor with
Delta management, just like the Delta pilots' contract.
(2) The contract contains provisions for a fleet commitment from Delta to perform Delta flying.
(3) Delta flying is, per Section 1 of the Delta PWA, flying performed by Delta pilots. Delta pilots permit some of their flying to be outsourced. This permission does not change ownership of that flying.
(4) The Delta PWA was modified by another pilot group without the knowledge or input of the the Delta pilots' Representatives (Sections 1D11 & LOA 2006-14) having to do ith hiring preferences.
(5) The Pinnacle MEC and NC did not comply with a whole host of provisions in the ALPA Administrative Manual, not just the "meet and confer" language, but those provisions having to do with concessionary bargaining and preferential hiring.
I've posted a lot my research here. Even if you do not agree with all these points, any one concern is sufficient for there to be a need for corrective action.
As I recall, you argued vigorously against the RJDC. Do realize that what was authorized and ratified via Pinnacle was actually further than the RJDC dared to ever try to go! Woerth would not authorize express carriers to do deals with mainline management behind the back (or even with) the Delta MEC.
Things changed under Prater and he did authorize a Comair contract with Delta management. So, not the Pinnacle contract is not entirely unique in that way. But, this is unique in it's disregard for the direction of our ALPA BOD. Further, just because Prater did something does not mean anyone else should repeat that mistake.
We should not want express carriers having unfettered access to the bargaining table with mainline management. ALPA has the resources and structure for us to coordinate our bargaining for mutual benefit. We should make good use of those tools.
Instead we see in Pinnacle, and now PSA's, negotiations airlines breaking away to do "survival" deals that undercut our profession.
I think the fix, at least for Delta, is to require notice and participation at our discretion in our Contract's recognition paragraph.