Originally Posted by
DAL 88 Driver
Pattern bargaining worked at a time when a 10-20% pay increase was appropriate and adequate. How will it work with restoration as the goal? (If that is our goal)
BTW, that is an honest (not rhetorical) question. I'd really like to know how you see the application of "pattern bargaining" actually achieving our objective... assuming restoration is the objective.
88, we don't live in a glass bubble, pattern bargaining will be crucial to obtaining significant contractual gains.
Ask yourself a few questions:
Do you truly believe that if no one else raises their rates significantly, that the Delta pilots can achieve,
and sustain, a contract that restores C2K + inflation, + DB, + medical, + disability, + scheduling, + scope? I'm assuming all of that is part of restoration, or are you just talking "partial" restoration?
Do you believe management would give us that if we just simply demanded it?
Do you think management would sign off on it because, once the traveling public becomes aware of our plight they would demand that we get it?
Do you believe that the NMB would release us for self help if we demanded a doubling of the cost of our contract, with all our competitors still working within 10% of current book?
I think you are being rhetorical if you demand something that "you know" is not feasible.
We do not live in a glass bubble and what goes on around us, the state of the economy, the industry and our airline both in good times and in bad, matters.
I believe our goal is to improve the pay and working conditions of the Delta pilots, to get as much as we can, for as many pilots as we can, as quickly as we can.