Originally Posted by Bucking Bar

Yes it is. But who said those airplanes are intended for the competition?

We are very close to being back in negotiations and our own official publications from my LEC tell me things, in bold like:
That question is answered:... or Welcome to Compass/Republic/Mesaba First Officer Bucking Bar. What was flying that Boeing like? Well this is how we do things here.

The problem is with the economic analysis of what is a "standard mainline aircraft." As we have seen that definition moves all over the place. From 66 seat DC9's to 99 seat E170's.

Until we wrestle our union away from a economic analysis of job security to a view that every union member's job is equally important we are not going to stop this horse trading of job security and advancement for another pilots percieved (not real) pay benefit.

Delta is on record saying it's priority is cleaning up its balance sheet and reducing debt. It aint buying a large number of jets, yet. When it does buy, it will probably be fully tasked with the need to renew the 767, 757, and 747 fleets. We will probably hear our employer lacks the money for a narrow body replacement. But our partners, like SkyWest & Republic, have plenty of money and are eager to spend it, 'oh and by the way they are non-ALPA.

ALPA seems oblivious to the fact that its facilitation of outsourcing seriously erodes its power. ALPA should immediately claim its exclusivity over Delta flying. If it flies it should have an ALPA crew and preferably a Delta crew.

What is the difference between Republic leasing a jet from Bombardier and being contracted by Delta, and Delta leasing that jet itself? Why do we care? As a union we should simply take the position "We fly airplanes, We don't buy them." If it operates in Delta colors then it is flown by a Delta pilot and we don't care if Republic leases it, you lease it, or that fat dude on LOST buys the airplane with lottery winnings... we fly it.