In response to my email about the significant differences in LTD benefits at DAL vs our TA. Our UAL MEC R&I Chairman referred to the current DAL LTD benefits as “The Gold Standard”. He agreed with me that I’d much prefer the DAL LTD (even though DAL’s is taxable and ours is tax fee) vs the UAL TA LTD.

Before I delve deeper into the LTD differences between DAL and our TA. Please understand the following.

At DAL on day 1 of LTD you get 100% of your regular 16% B plan company retirement contributions. The very same normal B plan company contributions you would receive if not on LTD.

Currently in our contract if on LTD you get zero B/C company retirement contributions.

IN OUR TA ALL UAL PILOTS GET 50% OF NORMAL B/C COMPANY RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTIONS - THAT IS AFTER 3 YEARS ON LTD NOT ON DAY 1!

First three years on LTD in our TA - No retirement contributions.

For current 777 & 787 CA’s it’s less then 50% retirement contributions due to our caps. It will effect smaller aircraft 12 year captains but not nearly to the extent the Cap penalizes 777/787 CA’s for retirement on LTD.

In all fairness we did make some progress on LTD in this TA, but it’s woefully inadequate! How can we be getting 50% of what DAL is getting on LTD in retirement and have our LTD be sold as one of the best improvements in the TA by our MEC & NC? Unbelievable! Industry leading contract, yeah right.

Let’s compare both LTD plans.

DAL - 50% Pay plus 32% B Plan (thus the normal 16% B) NO CAP - Taxable

UAL TA - 50% Pay plus 16% B/C Plan after 3 years on LTD to CAP. Cap $12,500 a month initially slides up to $13,125 no later then 1/24 - Tax Free

DAL Pay is calculated at DAL as highest consecutive 12 months over the last 36 months.

UAL Pay is calculated at 85.5 hours per month (1026 hours annually) times rate or blended rate (as appropriate).

I could make the argument most line holders on the 777/787 earn more then 85.5 pay hours per month, especially with 6 weeks of vacation. But our system is better for reserves. So I will not debate this area.

Also, I’d much prefer DAL’s pay (No CAP) taxable vs our tax free with CAP. But I’ll just stick to the fact THAT ALL UAL pilots get 50% normal retirement on LTD (after 36 months on LTD not day 1) and all DAL pilots get full retirement day 1 on LTD.

Ok now let’s talk about our Cap. For current 777 & 787 CA’s (reserve and line holder). We will receive less then 16% after 36 months on LTD due to Cap.

Initial Widebody 12 year CA pay rate date of signing $365.94 X 85.5 X .50 equals $15,643.

At DAL (using UAL Widebody rate at 85.5 hours at DOS) that would be $15,643 X .32 (full retirement) equals $5,005.76 - DAY 1 LTD or $60,069.12 annually.

At UAL $15,643 lowered to $12,500 due to Cap $12,500 X .16 equals $2000 AFTER 36 MONTHS on LTD. 12.7% Retirement due to Cap. So that’s $24,000 annually.

That’s a $36,069.12 difference annually. Sound like we got industry leading LTD?

Look you never really appreciate LTD until you need LTD. Not getting a full retirement B/C contribution like DAL pilots is punishing all our pilots on LTD.

If you are as outraged as me on this very important substandard contractual provision. Please help me by doing the following:

1: I’m not on other forums or Facebook groups. Please help educate our pilots by posting threads of our totally inadequate TA LTD. You can copy and paste this post or edit, or write your own post. But get this info out to our pilots.

2: After this TA is voted down please contact your LEC reps and demand DAL type LTD or at least a full 32% B/C Fund contribution day one while on LTD.

3: Pass resolutions at upcoming LC meetings for the MEC to direct the NC to negotiate Full Retirement on day one on the LTD section on TA 2.

4: If polled please make sure to indicate the importance of a DAL type LTD with full retirement on day one (not after 36 months) on TA-2.