Phuz

In the past I have been reluctant to invest in a company I worked for on the grounds of too many eggs in one basket. However I have slowly been coming around to the idea of voting as a shareholder for the company with which our financial futures are collectively tied.

So as to the title of this thread: If 14,500 pilots purchased 4,786 shares of DAL @ $61 ($292k ea) we would own 10% of the company. A large amount to be sure, but not "impossible" accounting for the ability of senior folks to hold more than junior folks.

It isn't the best investment on the market, it isn't practical for anyone who is new to the company, and putting all your eggs in one basket is generally a bad idea. But as a hypothetical, perhaps a long-term goal, if DAL pilots owned a sizable portion of the company we would see a drastically different management approach to how the pilots are treated. Activist investor pilots, scary..

We are the ones who truly care about the long term health of the company, while Ed & Co. are here today gone tomorrow with golden parachutes to the next venture. Consider owning some DAL (permanently) and voting for a management team that favors a long-term approach instead of quarter-to-quarter buybacks and vacations on DPJ to the Paris Disney over POTUS meetings..

Mesabah

Historically, pilot ownership did not go well.

freezingflyboy

In case you have forgotten the "Summer of Love" over at United, this might be a good read.

United Airlines, ESOPs, and Employee Ownership

Phuz

Great link thanks for sharing. I can see both sides to the issue, in fact the link you shared does point out that 10% ownership seems to work well for SWA. And also that: "United's unions pursued the ESOP not because they wanted to be owners so much as because they wanted to use ownership to prevent United from breaking up into regional carriers, diversifying out of the airline business, and outsourcing work performed by union members. They succeeded in that goal."

But unfortunately when times got tough the worker/owners weren't willing to trim the fat where necessary and that caused more damage than it would have otherwise. I can understand both sides here, an interesting discussion.

WIPilot

Noooooooooope.

No thanks.

2StgTurbine

But for that strategy to work, all 14,000 pilots would have to agree on things for us to have any impact. I don't see that happening.

DELTAFO

I'm surprised Delta doesn't offer an ESOP/ESPP with a 15-20% discount like a lot of companies.

clear4approach

I was wondering what I should do with that $292k I have evening out the wobbly table leg in my dining room....

DrunkIrishman

$292,000 is a lot of money. Do you know what I would do if I had $292,000: two chicks at the same time.

freightdogg

$292,000 for two chicks?? You're way overpaying for your services sir.