Originally Posted by
NWA320pilot
Well as a 13 year NWA 320 FO here is my take on what has transpired. DAL needed contractual changes from their pilots. The DALPA negoitiated a LOA that improves the working conditions for its pilots. It also was able to extract a stake in the company, the way I see it is good for them! NWA didn't have the language that DAL had and so they were the ones who had a dog in that hunt. I personally think that if the shoes had been reversed NWA APLA would have done the same thing (or I would like to hope). I do not feel like DALPA went behind the NWA guys backs as they were the ones with a contract that needed changed in order to continue. I also feel that anything the DALPA got will eventually flow for the NWA pilots. So I see this as a plus not a negative. I would have loved for both sides to have come together and closed the differences 6 weeks ago but at least there was some gain on the working conditions we will all be under shortly.
now that the merger is announced it is time for the DALPA and NWA ALPA to get back together and come to an agreement that benefits the entire pilot group as a whole. There are always going to be guys who feel screwed but hopefully the final product will benefit us all. Arbitration is never a good thing so hopefully it will not go down that path.
As a fellow NWA pilot, I could not have said it better myself. We have had years of worthless arguing between RED and GREEN, and hope we can avoid any DAL vs NWA debates.
I am slated to retire as number 6 at NWA, and know that will not happen as a combined group. I am cautiously optimistic that we can reach an agreement that will satisfy my expectations.
Best of luck to all.