Originally Posted by
DAL 88 Driver
You are making an incorrect assumption. You think Delta is not going to hire any more pilots from non-ALPA backgrounds like the military and Sky West? First of all, I think that opens Delta up to the possibility of a lawsuit for discriminatory hiring practices. And more importantly, it means that Delta would have to pass on some very well qualified and highly desirable individuals. I'm not saying that many of the pilots at DCI ALPA carriers aren't good enough... and if an ALPA DCI pilot is the best candidate for the job, then we should hire that individual. I'm just saying that you cannot discriminate like that. It's not legal. This mania you seem to have about "unity" being the answer to everything seems to be turning into a fantasy world. I agree about the unity overall, but I think you're taking it to some illogical, impractical conclusions.
You need to wrap your mind around what I am saying. It would be agreed to just like preferential interviews are. Heck, if done right it could be done with a two step integration. DCI integration of seniority of ALPA carriers and then a category status (which puts all RJ guys below you) on our list. The effect is they are not "hired"
Do not worry about a lawsuit. Worry about deciding to 1) Recapture the flying, and then 2) worry about what we will or will not do as a leader withing ALPA.
Many of the RJ guys will at first gnash their teeth but when they realize that the offer is better than the street they will sober up real quick. There is nothing to preclude us from doing any of this. We need the will and motivation to engage the company on this. DO we? Who knows. I know I am willing and motivated, and it has nothing to do with my current seniority. It has to do with repairing this industry and career. We want wages and benefits commensurate with our skill, well the first thing that needs to be done is to do more of our flying and second is to consolidate our power base. We have one in place, we just have moved it off the mainline lists over the last two decades. Time to bring it back, and doing something for your fellow ALPA pilots will result in a level of unity that you cannot imagine.