Originally Posted by alfaromeo

It might be easier in this discussion if we start from a base of what we agree on. I would submit that these are points that maybe we can agree on, correct me if I am wrong:

1. Delta pilots have a contractual right to control all flying done under the DL code. Whether we "own" it or not is just semantics. We negotiated for that right so we can exercise that right.

2. The current whipsaw with 485,000 different DCI carriers is not serving Delta well and is not serving the pilots well, at any carrier. The DCI pilots are being thrown around like pawns as management teams try to undercut each other. This whipsaw has negative implications for pilots at mainline too. For Delta, this race to the bottom is not providing the service that a top tier airline should deliver.

3. Each pilot at each carrier makes decisions that are right for his circumstances in life. What is right for Pilot A is not right for Pilot B and so on. It makes little sense arguing which career decisions each other should make because you are all different people.

4. Merging carriers is a management function. Labor does not merge corporate entities. Labor merges seniority lists AFTER management decides on a corporate transaction. Trying to merge a seniority list without a corporate merger is pointless.

If you can accept some or all of those assertions, then perhaps you can decide on a course of action from there. My plan is:

1. Decide on a seniority integration process for as many DCI carriers that want to participate. This will make it easier to sell the remaining steps to management. If management is going to be convinced to move along this path, they won't deal with a US Air/America West style food fight over seniority.
2. Work with management to standardize the work rules, PBS, pay, etc. for all DCI carriers.
3. Work with management to merge participating DCI carriers into one entity with flow up flow down.
4. Finally merge the DCI entity into mainline

It took a long time to get into this mess and it will take a long time to get out. Some of the current DCI carriers will be dropped or out of business by the time this is done. We should strive to make sure that pilots always go along with planes in any transaction. We should also strive to make sure that pilots that are happy with their current situation have some type of fence protection for their current jobs for at least some period of time.

Don't know if this is possible or even practical, but I think we all will be better off under one company and one contract.