Originally Posted by
overqualified52
If it ever happened it can’t be a staple but at the same time how could 1600 Endeavor pilots leapfrog over you if it were some type of merge? There are 15,000 Delta pilots . 1600 Endeavor folks being merged in would hardly make a difference in any current Delta pilots life cause they would be bringing all the RJ9 aircraft over with the pilots . Unless current Delta pilots would bid to fly the RJ it would be status quo and over time pilots would bid something different that they could hold . I’m not sure how it would work with 10 to 30 year 9E pilots as far as seniority credit . I know the Union said Delta simply couldn’t afford to just bring the RJ’s over and “dump” all the pilots cause they can’t even staff what they got . That would be a waste of time .
You're right. A merger scenario is too risky to the Delta pilots. Way too likely to go sideways because of seniors at 9E who turned down flow and will certainly sue in a seniority grab.
In fact, the best way to handle this would be to simply flow all the 9E pilots to DL in seniority order and fly the jets at mainline. You could even have fences for a few years and keep your seat. "It's not a staple, it's a flow". McCaskill/Bond approved. Anyone who refuses can resign.
Or liquidate 9E, consolidate the jets (owned by Delta) at SkyWest, and let everyone go through the normal hiring processes at YX, OO, and DL. Preferential hiring. Like when Comair was liquidated. With the job market right now nobody will be out of a job very long. You could probably go to SkyWest as a street CA and fly the same jet. Of course, you'd have to start over in pay and benefits, but that favors Delta too. Keeps costs low. Certainly much less messy for Delta and DALPA this way. The CRJ 900 is getting pretty long in the tooth anyhow. Probably won't be around too much longer. Let SkyWest fly them for a few more years until they're parked... really no point in the time and expense of adding them to the Delta certificate.
Or you could just take the staple (if offered) and be glad you won the lottery for your last few years.
Mark my words, as soon as a lawsuit gets filed, DALPA walks away and Delta liquidates 9E. No 9E pilot will ever enter the Delta seniority list above a current Delta pilot. Ever. Neither Delta nor DALPA want that, and they hold all the marbles.