Originally Posted by
Big E 757
How long have you worked here? That’s an honest question. Also, how long have you been in this industry? I am a Chicago native, but by some fluke, Delta was the only job offer I received before 9/11, so I came to work here. I planned on leaving if UAL or AA called, but they didn’t. I’ve noticed though, that when Pilots from other airlines talk about industry leading, they usually use the word Delta. I.E. “Delta rates”, or Delta contract”. I know our contract is really weak in a lot of areas where UA and AA beat us hands down, and we are long overdue for a new contract, but our contract will never lag any other airline or “Air Line” 🤣 by a margin that will cause pilots to go elsewhere. Some will, because of retirement numbers, or where they live (I would have if given the chance too) but that’s more of a personal decision and not one based on us having a contract that much worse than our counterparts to cause a mass exodus. Just my personal opinion of course.
We all want a better contract, being 3+ years overdue, plus inflation, gas prices….our purchasing power is getting crushed from several fronts, but it isn’t much better anywhere else currently. Unfortunately, the RLA is driving our lack of progress. It’ll get done, and one day we will all be glad we waited until Delta started making serious profits again. That’s why some serious form of Retro pay or signing bonus is important. I’m talking 15% of each individuals earnings for the past 4 years….meaningful retro.
We can all thank the United MEC for sending their contract back, and their pilots for speaking up to their leadership to say that their AIP was severely lacking and needed to be dumped in the garbage. Well done UAL Pilots! Let’s all stay positive and demand what we deserve!
It's probably best we all avoid discussions about key data points that could be used to identify one's self. As far as rates go, there was a point in the not so distance past when AAL rates jumped past ours and we had new hires no showing. I feel rates and opportunity do affect hiring, just look at Alaska. However, swapping out a seniority number for a pay bump, not so much.
I agree on retro. I do not find it coincidental that during one of the best negotiating times in history (record RASM, inflation and a real pilot shortage), the UAL MEC dropped a TA that was so bad, it stalled any chance of making near term gains against inflation. All of these airlines were floating rumors of raises; they were just that, rumors to get the troops past summer and into the doldrums of being overstaffed.
Originally Posted by
JustNarced
They are betting pilots will keep a number here, at a lower payrate, with simply a hope that someday our rates will catch up. I don't think they will
We said the same thing, the last sentence was in reference to rates. DAL has always viewed PS as "compensation" from their end.