Just a couple of points....

1) the CAL pre-merger offer to CAL mgt. was roughly 10% MORE than the SWA (incl. 737-800 TA) rates.

2) The UCAL ALPA rate proposal is even more than the pre-merger rate proposal (how much more is unknown to anyone except the JMEC and JNC), plus other gains proposed.

3) CAL has a frozen but still paying AND 12.75% DC
4) UAL has a 16% DC
5) AA has a smaller but working pension AND 11% DC
6) FDX has SOLID pension AND 7% DC

7) AA is on ice, but has new leadership and is trying to find a way to get a deal (they will be forced to come off the 53% increases, but hopefully UCAL will give them a great benchmark to land on top of)

8)FDX is getting ready to start hiring and they are also about to exchange openers at a profitable company....FWIW cargo margins are a lot lower than they used to be, but still pretty solid.

9) Airtran pilots yet another LCC will be brought up to SWA levels.


ANYBODY WHO WANTS "SWA PAY" AT DAL IS SHOOTING WAY WAY WAY TOO LOW.

IN ALL LIKELIHOOD WE WILL BE AIMING AT A REALISTIC OPENER OF SWA +25-30%, 17-20%DC, PLUS OTHER CHANGES FOR THE BETTER!


**IMHO, the UCAL, AT/SWA merger contract, AA contract and FDX contract are all up for renewal and possibly getting signed BEFORE we even exchange openers........
That is why I think that the MEC has not come out with a "target/mission statement of goals for C1012" YET.....
I think they are afraid of not asking for enough at the outset and then getting blamed for being not demanding enough. I'm glad I'm not part of the upcoming MEC, its a real rock and a hard place.