Originally Posted by Bucking Bar

Good point.


To prepare for negotiations the FIRST job is to understand the company's business going forward. What are the revenue flows? What are the arrangements with partners? What is "Delta flying", what is under Delta management's control and what obligations has the company already made, arrangements so central to the product we produce that they are inviolate.

We had emotion-driven negotiations during a very profitable time which got us nothing.

We had need-based negotiations during an existential pandemic which netted good results; job security, safety, more time off, better seniority and pay.

Our recent gains were harder than they needed to be. We have elected ALPA Representatives who fed the emotional grievances of self-entitled pilots who even went so far as to champion the furloughs of our own members.

If we give in to the laziness of emotional reaction we will stagnate, Delta will move on without us and perhaps eventually get to "me too" on United or American. If we can continue to build on the transactional arrangement we have benefitted from during COVID we might actually lead the industry again. Perhaps we can negotiate our rightful share (Delta's flying) of a well-positioned international travel conglomerate.