Delta management has attempted to circumvent raises to pilots directed in 3.B.4. Their temporary success is due to their deliberate manipulation of the timing of raises given to non-pilot employees. The PWA language as written allows them the ability to change the timing of the trigger event to management's advantage. However the language as written also provides an 18 month rolling look back. The 3.B.4. provision can be delayed and manipulated but can not be avoided. Every raise in the 18 months following December 1, 2015 now includes the percentage of employees effected on December 1. This percentage will always exceed the 30% required to trigger a review. This means every raise in the next 18 months will also trigger a review. Most importantly the satisfaction of conditions to trigger a review are not limited by frequency or previous triggers.


3.B.4. Trigger:
“If, during any consecutive rolling 18-month period, the Company grants an across-the-board increase in base pay rates to non-pilot U.S.-based workgroups covering 30% or more of its non-pilot U.S.-based workforce, then a review of pilot composite hourly rates will be triggered.”

3.B.4. Next trigger date:
The next increase in base pay rates to a non-pilot U.S. based work group will be the dispatcher contractual raise in the PAFCA contract.
On the date of the PAFCA contractual raise there will have been an across-the-board increase in base pay rates to non-pilot U.S.-based workgroups covering 30% or more (nearly 100%) of its non-pilot U.S.-based workforce within the preceding 18 months. The fulfillment of the language specific conditions will trigger a review of pilot composite hourly rates.


3.B.4. Review:
“If, as a result of that review, it is determined that, as of the date the review was triggered, the Delta top-of-scale 757 Captain composite hourly rate is less than 100% of the average of the top-of-scale 757 Captain hourly domestic day rates at United and American, the pilot composite hourly rates will be increased (except as 9 provided in Section 3 B. 4. Note). The amount of increase will be the lesser of the percentage difference between the Delta top-of-scale 757 Captain composite hourly rate and 100% of the top-of-scale average 757 Captain hourly domestic day rates at United and American, or the average percentage increase (except as provided in Section 3 B. 4. Note) granted to the non-pilot U.S.-based workgroups of the Company. Any percentage increase due the pilots will be effective as of the date of the increase that triggered the review.”

3.B.4. Next review:
As of January 1, 2016 the review of pay rates will provide a 3% pay increase under the current United and American contracts. However, if United ratifies an agreement that moves their composite rate substantially higher, then the review would provide an increase of either the average increase of the non-pilot raises or the increase to the industry average rate, whichever is less. The result of a United ratification before the PAFCA trigger date could result in as much as a 14.5% pay rate increase if the Delta employee portion of the comparison is the lessor value. Any ratification after the PAFCA pay increase allows for an increase the following year if it is still within 18 months. The comparison is made each time another review is triggered.



3.B.4. From PWA:
If, during any consecutive rolling 18-month period, the Company grants an across-the-board increase in base pay rates to non-pilot U.S.-based workgroups covering 30% or more of its non-pilot U.S.-based workforce, then a review of pilot composite hourly rates will be triggered. If, as a result of that review, it is determined that, as of the date the review was triggered, the Delta top-of-scale 757 Captain composite hourly rate is less than 100% of the average of the top-of-scale 757 Captain hourly domestic day rates at United and American, the pilot composite hourly rates will be increased (except as provided in Section 3 B. 4. Note). The amount of increase will be the lesser of the percentage difference between the Delta top-of-scale 757 Captain composite hourly rate and 100% of the top-of-scale average 757 Captain hourly domestic day rates at United and American, or the average percentage increase (except as provided in Section 3 B. 4. Note) granted to the non-pilot U.S.-based workgroups of the Company. Any percentage increase due the pilots will be effective as of the date of the increase that triggered the review.
Note: Base pay rates for non-pilot U.S. – based workgroups will only be considered to have increased to the extent they exceed the rates in effect on July 1, 2012. Should an increase for non-pilot U.S.-based workgroups exceed the base pay rates in effect on July 1, 2012, then only the percentage by which such an increase exceeds the applicable July 1, 2012, base pay rates will be considered in the calculation of the percentage increase that may be applied to pilot composite hourly rates.