I would say for a few reasons:

1. They came to us early for a reason. Being mere line Pilots we have no idea what it is, but there is a reason. They want something fast.
2. They are behind on manning and the training pipeline will only grow.
3. They are unhappy with the current sick leave policy.
4. The potential profit sharing payouts will be huge and they are probably under pressure from Wall St/investors to do something about it.
5. Richard said "Labor issues are off the table at Delta." Surely he does not like to be wrong.
6. Scope. Our Scope numbers are now limiting. Every single time our Scope numbers are limiting we cave and set new numbers. When the new numbers are limiting we cave again. Repeat as necessary.

There are probably some other good reasons that I am omitting but the point is this: We are currently in a very good position.

If these rumors are even close to being true I pray that we get parked for a couple of years due to the RLA. The longer we delay this "Train Wreck" the better off we will all be.

To paraphrase that funny looking British dude "Time is on our side."

Scoop



One more thing, and this is very important. If we sign off on a mediocre deal now, in this current environment, we are done, toast, kaput. We will be diminishing our bargaining power for years if not longer. We will never ever get anything other than a mediocre deal at best in the future.

If we set the precedent of a mediocre deal in the best negotiating environment in memory why would management ever agree to anything more than mediocre?