Originally Posted by
MikeF16
My point is nobody ever thought they would do that. You have the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. The company is smart, they get 100% out of the contract. I'd rather not let them try with VB. The details are slim. Would we vote this in if instead of getting retro to 1 Jan 16, 18/3/3/4 we instead would receive "a raise that Ed thinks is fair"? Of course not, so why are we signing a blank check when it comes to VB? Sure we can stop payment on the check later on, but there could be some unpleasantness while it all gets sorted out.
Mike, I get your concern for this possibly affecting the better trips in the bid package. And I get your concern for the unknown. I don't know how this will shake out and I can't stand weak contract language, but by virtue of the fact that we can kill this thing if it doesn't go our way, I'm comfortable with at least giving it a chance.
We have a lot of commuters in our ranks, and if a VB in MCO or LAS improves their lives, even if it's only for a few months a year, I'm alright with giving it a chance. I live outside ORD and I know we won't see a VB, so I don't think it will affect me but Id be happy to know James Bond or Timbo (If he wanted to down bid) could take advantage of this to be home a few more nights. Let's give it a chance. If Timbo was tired of Joburg and downbid to the ER, that opens up a 777A position.
Like TED74 said, you'll never know what trips are/were affected by this. I bid the A320 Captain in NYC instead of the 717 A in DTW or ATL because, last January, when I looked at the different bid packages, the A320 trips in NYC were beautiful in comparison. Late sign ins for the most part, flying up and down the coast to Florida destinations, with early sign outs on day 4. Perfect trips for commuters. Now we have 1-3 day trips that are mostly un commutable with some 4-5 day trips that are commutable but it's a completely different mix than last January. I'm expecting them to get better in January again when they up gauge the NYC to FLA equipment. Delta is using historical data to "right size" the equipment on every route, not only for the time of day but the day of the week too. it didn't used to be that way. They like the flexibility, and this VB thing adds to that.
I feel that I've made a short post too long, but I think the main driver for this whole VB thing was so they could set up, for example, an A330 base in MSP or BOS for the summer to save deadhead costs, or a 777 base in NYC seasonally. We didn't agree to that so this is the first bite of the apple for them. They want even more out of this, eventually. I'd like to see how they use this but I don't think a domestic VB is their goal. I don't think they'll get much out of it, but if they do want more, maybe it will be a really good deal for some guys while they try to lure us deeper into the trap.
I'd love to not have to commute, even if it was for a few months a year, and while I know this won't help me personally, there are a lot of guys who might benefit from this. Let's at least give it a chance. You never know, the trips you like might actually get better. I doubt it, but there are a lot of commuters in ATL too, maybe your relative seniority gets better when guys leave ATL for MCO or wherever the VB's end up.
Sorry for the long and poorly worded rant, I'm trying to type this while watching the Cubs make history....