Originally Posted by
forgot to bid
Scope and Compass were big. It was all over the L&G thread, a website was created called Combine Compass and then the LEC elections happened and there was a lot of anti-LM rancor leading up to those. Not to mention LOA's coming out of nowhere signed sealed and delivered and people bieng upset. Not to mention the whole CPZ MEC split issue. And then there were complaints about communication with DALPA. The silence from the MEC and LM was replaced with fears the MEC wasn't protecting only a portion of the pilot group.
Then things improved in the communication side significantly with a better flow of the quality of information which was greatly appreciated especially as we went into the HND, CPZ MEC split and slot swap. We started to get more insight into the MEC and a lot of things began to make more sense as time and company events unfolded. Although much of the communication has had to be limited for good reason. Operating in silence isn't a bad thing.
OK, but anyone who read my posts on the CPZ deal surely realize this went down just exactly as predicted. One reason I've been sitting back and watching is simply because this transaction wasn't "news." Actually amusing to see it done before many could even say, what tha ... .
Threats on the horizon are:
- Compass will fight their scope restrictions and / or unilateral flow
- Compass may join Teamsters
- Compass, or one of the other larger outsourced labor groups may threaten ALPA's exclusivity on Delta bargaining
- Pilots will continue to question ALPA's role. Out of frustration will call for decertification. Decertification would be disastrous for Delta pilots as such a move would fall right into the hands of those who want our seat at the table
There has been no change what so ever in the strategic direction our negotiations (or management's word "discussions")
have taken. We still facilitated a sale of Delta flying. Delta is still, slowly, getting out of the business of operating an airline.
It is difficult to say if there has been any changes in our Chairman's actual positions. I suspected his promotion of flow through agreements was political, but many disagreed and believe his sincerity on the subject. His talking points have been updated and are more respectful of those with scope concerns.
Our current scope isn't as strong as it could be, because it does not make a lot of objective sense. The regional guys will eventually leverage these weaknesses and ally with management if we get forced into concessionary bargaining. Holes, as I see them:
- Manufacturers, the FAA and Airlines see aircraft as Types. The E175 is a family of jets capable of 122 seats / 4,200 miles. In effect, we have outsourced the 100 seat Type. By not recapturing it, we risk losing it. (I think we'll hold on around the current limits, but it will be tough fight because it just isn't a very clear objective line)
- The 76 seat limit is an economic compromise built around bankruptcy data. If we increase our pay rates, pressure will increase to operate these aircraft to their full capacities. Worse if we are in concessionary bargaining and the Company just really needs to maximize revenue.
- We still have a very fragmented group of pilots doing the bottom half of Delta flying. As the heat gets turned up, they will look for ways to protect their jobs entering into concessionary bargaining which further upsets the 76 seat compromise.
ALPA has an excellent opportunity to prove itself in these upcoming "discussions." All the parties are at the table to talk scope. Lets hope for the best. We have some very bright people representing us. If all of our scope wrangling had an effect, we shall see.