Originally Posted by
keenster
Got this emailed to me. For those of you who think the fNWA guys are all happy here is a comment that went to ALPA on their survey.
Subject: my reply to the alpa survey at the end in the comments section
Comments-
I am a former "North" pilot and I live in Atlanta. My wife is a "real" Delta F/A. You would think I/we would be thrilled with the merger. Well, sorry to say, not true.
My facts: In the past year:
1) My quality of life has gone way down.
2) The stress in my life has gone way up.
3) My paycheck is down.
I could end it right there but, since you want “additional comments”, here goes...
My opinions:
For me, this merger of the, "were going to take the best of both airlines and blend into one great airline..." turned into a great big force feeding / one more loving spoon full... for the NWA pilot group.
I see it as a failure of ALPA. ALPA Nation, DAL & NWA. My union has totally failed me.
I have to start with the seniority list.
"Ratio"...? The "ratio" track was only good on day 1 of the merger. Look at where my "ratio" will be in 10 yrs and where it should be. Sorry, I got screwed along with a large % of NWA pilots. My June 2010 SS# is 4,5xx. The DAL guy hired the same day as me, #2,6xx. (I’ll do the math for you, that’s 1,870#’s) I’m almost 49 yrs old. That is a huge disparity, forever. In no way did I expect to come in to this merger and bump him (#2,6xx) out of his position, but in no uncertain terms do I think it’s fair that he should always, for the rest of my career and his, have that kind of super-seniority to me. Especially, when most of the retirements in the next 8+/- yrs are former NWA pilots. My chance to move up the list, have holidays off with my family, enjoy seniority and earn money to support my family is gone. Forever! The career expectations I had when I was hired for NWA and have had for the last 22+ yrs. Gone. Forever. Do you get/understand that? This seniority list will cost me a million dollars in lost promotions, and many lost holidays with my family over the rest of my career. Thank you ALPA. If I could leave APLA tomorrow, I would.
I blame DAL (Moak) & National (Prater) ALPA 100%. I believe they were in bed with Richard Andreson, and the merger team the whole way. The "dynamic list" or DOH (with fences) was the best, true ALPA choice. But, guess what, not the best choice for DAL pilots or Anderson. So, look at what we got.
The whole company will be merged, date of hire, except the two pilot groups (the only union on the property). What am I missing here?
Ok, now, let's forget the seniority list and look at the rest of the "blending". How did that go? 80%- 20% DAL ALPA format. 85%-15%??? From the small to the big...
Contract, scheduling, work rules, all manuals, Log books, fuel slips, bidding, check-list, all cockpit procedures, how to fly the jet, scheduling, how to take your crew rest on a trans-pac, work rules, IT, sopa, smac, AOM., FOM, work rules, COM, QRM and everything in between. (did I say scheduling and work rules?) Oh, and I love the fact that I can't view my crews “take-off and landing currency” when I sign-in for a trip because I'm "not a captain".... ha! that’s beautiful! Pure Delta. And the conversion to the DAL flt planning/paper work. I think the quote on the Delta web site said “smooth/seamless”…Ha!.. One place, right place. BS. The list goes on and on…
Of course, let’s not forget the “phase” training program. I really loved the whole…, we (delta) will "train you" (nwa pilot) on-line. How easy is that!!! You guys just watch this video on your home computer and, poof! Your good to go!... Just forget all you have done for the past 20+ yrs in your job and go to work the next day and do it all different. No worries! Good on ya mate! Yeh-ha!!! Mash the button!
So, as I slowly watch all the former NWA pilot/managers get “retired” and replaced by DAL boys. All I can think about is the phrase I saw on the bathroom wall in the Atlanta pilot crew room…”It’s time for the Visine treatment… lets get the RED out”…
As my friend, Parri “scrappy” Olmstead (then ALPA sched committee chairman and now our negotiating chairman) told me… "[FONT='Times New Roman','serif']I understand your frustration and had NWA acquired Delta I would probably be in your boat…but it was the other way around. It is what it is and sometimes it is better to accept what you have no control over and move on[/font]…”
I’m am so glad Parri is my Negotaiting chairman, I’m really sure he is on my team. Yeah! Go ALPA! Go Parri!
So.. “Howgozit??
In my opinion, not too good on my side of the ledger. It’s kind of like a big, fat “zit” on my a**.
I have one more question for you. Do you think it would “flush” if the head of the 777 program “retired” and was replaced by the head of the 747 program??? Howgozit…….
Smile and wave boys, smile and wave and, lets “get the red out”.
Is there is a little frustration, stress and anger in my life right now. Take a guess.
Am I happy with ALPA? Take a guess.
I am glad you asked for “additional comments” in your survey? Take a guess.
DTW 747 f/o, 22+ yrs with the company, on reserve, not by choice.