FangsF15

One point of correction. It was the company that approached ALPA about SIL’s & April Rebid. Only to decide they “didn’t feel right”.

Forgotmyhat

I got it! Let’s can a few SVPs, that’ll save some jobs. We’re a smaller airline now, right? JG can take JL’s job back. He can handle safety and flight ops, he already knows how to do both. If management is serious about looking at all options, let’s cull the exec herd!

Tailhookah

They’ve all given 25% of their salary!!!!.... that equates to about 4-5% of what they usually make... oops. Those “optics” didn’t last long after Ed was quickly called out about his “cut” in his salary only equated to a paltry 4-5%...

A pilot who usually flies 88 hours gives up about 18% when flying 72 hours.

Forgotmyhat

Yeah, and they only take home 60% of that salary. Not a difficult “give” for them. Nope, I say can ‘em.

beis77

This was psyops pure and simple. They went for shock value in order to entice more early outs, and they said as much in the town hall, although not in those words. Paraphrasing, I seem to recall them saying they did it this way so pilots would know where we stand, or something to that affect. They cut down the wide bodies and northern bases to “entice” senior WB pilots to take the deal. That was my interpretation anyway.

The thing is, I don’t fault the company for wanting/needing to cut costs, to include furloughs if necessary. I do fault the company for their machination against pilots in particular. Management approached ALPA, seemingly as a partner, and their actions (aside from VEOP) have been anything but mutually beneficial. It’s more of a “my way or the highway” approach to negotiations. The company is going to cut X amount of dollars, and they don’t care how. We can either cover the cost ourselves via ALV reductions, or the company will cut it with an axe via furloughs. Temp ALV reductions are better for the company as the pilots pay for the cut and alleviate the training burden associated with the MOAD for the company. Those are the only two choices we’re being given at the moment.

As a negotiating “partner”, management’s stance so far reminds me of the negotiations between Billy Bob Thornton and Hugh Grant in the movie Love Actually. For those that may recall, the two actors are discussing trade policy and Billy Bob (POTUS) says to Hugh Grant (English PM), “I’ll give you anything you ask for - as long as it's not something I don't want to give...”

We’re being told we’re a partner, but we’re not being treated as such. We are being told what is going to happen and how this will go down. As others have said, 100% of us can take a 15% cut, or 15% of us will take a 100% cut. That’s it. Either way, pilots are going to be paying for it, and management does not seem interested in mutually beneficial (voluntary) solutions.

Granted, it was only a movie, However I feel Hugh Grant’s response to the POTUS in Love Actually was very appropriate to our situation with management now, and I’d encourage DALPA to adopt a similar approach. Here’s the quote, I’ll substitute the words President and Britain, and then it rings true...

“I love that word relationship. ... Covers all manners of sins, doesn’t it? I fear that this has become a bad relationship. A relationship based on [management] taking exactly what [they] want, and casually ignoring all those things that really matter to [pilots].

A friend who bullies us is no longer a friend. And since bullies only respond to strength, from now onward I will be prepared to be much stronger.”

Drum

I was a happy, motivated, proud delta pilot.

Management's actions, so aptly pointed out by others, during this event have flipped me 180.

When we do eventually come back from furlough (hopefully), and upgrade, how motivated do you think we're going to be to go that "extra mile" for them? I can't speak for others. I know where I'll be.

Extend? No. FU. It'll be fly the contract for me. Nothing more.

Gunfighter

It seems JL is doing his best to put us into the red...

DETSports

No doubt about it, having trouble finding motivation to study for my CQ in August just to be on reserve for one month and UNA and probably furlough on 10/1....sigh

Coffeepilot1

They have officially burned every bridge.

Jaww

May the bridges I've burned light the way.