RMMD,
You ask for a serious mature discussion so I will try to oblige.
My whole point on this topic is that we now have IOE trip drops that we have already bargained and paid for. So now that it is starting to get inconvenient for the company they want to get rid of it.
You have said it only benefits a small portion of the Pilots. I responded that so do our 777 pay-rates but somehow only a small portion of Pilots benefiting this way is OK. I fail to see a difference.
As a matter of fact I will say that every Pilot on property could benefit from the IOE trips years before they could, if ever, benefit from the 777 pay-
rates. Anyway I assume you disagree so lets move on.
Why are the IOE trip drops so important for management?
My opinion is that we have multiple fleets that will require a very large portion of training.
History refresher for our Northern brothers and sisters who may or may not have had a similar history at Northwest:
Prior to the merger all we heard about was fleet simplicity. We were parking fleets right and left in the name of "Fleet simplicity." At one time the long range fleet plan was something like 777/767-757/737. I know some fleets were already planned to go away (727 etc) but there was definitely a drive to a simplified fleet with all the efficiencies that it would bring.
Well then management wanted a merger. Fleet simplification could not be used to justify a merger so overnight "Fleet simplification" became "fleet versatility." Now we would put "the right equipment on the right route." Yields would go up and management would pat themselves on the back and reward themselves handsomely - and rightfully so.
So now we have one of the most complicated Airline Fleets in the world, a fleet that management willingly pursued and put into operation. Operating a vast diverse fleet is very inefficient so now management wants the Pilots to acquiesce to efficiency related concessions.
Well first off I say no concessions in a time of record profits, especially when we are in many ways behind compensation wise, compared to a 14 year old contract. This does not mean "No compromise," we will obviously have to compromise with management.
Here is an example that I am sure many Pilots would not like but it is a compromise:
DAL - "We want 75% IOE trip Pulls.
DALPA - "No, We just got rid of 23K on C2012 and reinstated the drops."
DAL - "OK how about 50% IOE trip drops"
DALPA "WE will agree to 25% IOE trip drops with the following stipulations......................"
Now compare that to what happened with TA-15. "The company said is was a must have item so we gave it to them."
Finally please answer this question referencing IOE trip drops:
If it is so inconsequential why is it a "must have" for the company?
Happy Labor day All!
