Ed Bastian Townhall
 

Summary:

-The only news that was made was Furloughs being pushed back to Nov 1st. It was becoming increasingly obvious that it was in their best interest to do this. Many airlines have announced they aren’t furloughing at all. United recently led the way in pushing back furloughs. A deadline of Oct 1st would have killed any chance at big cost savings with an ALPA deal. It would have also killed any deal in Congress for more aid. Once employees are laid off, the world moves on a day later. He needs there to be something to be saved by Congress.

-Ed’s body language was on the uncomfortable side. He’s obviously aware of the turning opinion among pilots.

-He re-affirmed that SILs were cancelled because it “wasn’t fair” and because they didn’t offer enough savings. They continue to compare pilots to other work groups at Delta rather than pilot groups at other airlines to justify their decision. Imagine if in Sec 6 if we pattern bargained with Gate Agents, or Senior Vice Presidents.. Doesn’t work that way, pilots have always been negotiated with in context to their peers at other airlines.

-The biggest none answer was to a simple question as to how much CARES ACT money was left. A pilot posted a detailed data sheet proving that at least $1B has to be left. Ed himself said payroll was down 40% YOY. He didn’t answer the question, just said all the money was gone and “accounted for”. Followed up claiming they were “in compliance”. No surprise on the None answer, it’s obvious they’ve pocketed the payroll money to bolster other parts of the business.

-With regard to the last no furlough proposal, he said make no mistake, it is calling for sacrifice.

-He made an appeal directly to the 1,721 to contact their reps and demand they make a deal.

-Pilot payroll so far is down 12%, said other groups are down 40%. Moderator ignored the question asking how many non pilot leaves were earning more money in federal unemployment while on leave.

-Ed said they turned down the gov loan because they wanted SkyMiles program as collateral. He said they decided to take that collateral and raise 9B instead of the 5B being offered by the gov, and in result ended paying a slightly higher interest rate.

The long term goal for international is 50/50 with Delta and its partner airlines... put it in writing in the PWA that 50% of all intentional flying will be done by DALPA pilots on DAL metal with size and frequency measurements then. Guarantee us that portion and if it isn't met a pay stipend for the generated revenue from all international ops. And 50% doesn't mean 45.5 - 54.5% either because we all know that just means 45.5%.

might sway some no votes if we secured long term scope Improvements as part of this deal; although they say actions speak louder than words and their actions don’t seem to align with what was said

Yea, towards the end he stated that concessions were necessary in the pilot workforce, mentioning that we are the highest paid workforce several times. That slick used car salesman look and approach doesn’t work with me, and I hope everyone else saw through it as well. Take you suit wearing 400$ sneakers elsewhere..concession stand is closed.

Felt a bit passive-aggressive to me at the end there as well.

I'm with you. Unless there are some serious gibs to us, the stand is C-L-O-S-E-D.

Wait, the international flying will be done 50-50 from now on instead of the 43-57 or whatever?

ED: "And I know you, John, have been making offers since this spring about opportunities to go no furlough."

JL: "Totally agree"

Talk about a half truth... It's exactly that kind of tone-deafness that negates any leaning toward thinking they aren't exactly what they are accused of being.

-The biggest none answer was to a simple question as to how much CARES ACT money was left. A pilot posted a detailed data sheet proving that at least $1B has to be left. Ed himself said payroll was down 40% YOY. He didn’t answer the question, just said all the money was gone and “accounted for”. Followed up claiming they were “in compliance”. No surprise on the None answer, it’s obvious they’ve pocketed the payroll money to bolster other parts of the business.

-Pilot payroll so far is down 12%, said other groups are down 40%. Moderator ignored the question asking how many non pilot leaves were earning more money in federal unemployment while on leave.
[/QUOTE]

The CARES question has been dodged for 5 months. My guess is severance and associated packages counts as payroll. The rules on the money were very broad. I doubt it was used for other non-personnel items just not directly for monthly paychecks. This stuff does get audited.

I personally don't believe pilot payroll was only down 12% yty with the lower line values this summer and mass green slip useage and high time lines last year. Again probably some liberal accounting for what counts as payroll.

Joanne Smith answered the question and confirmed several on voluntary leaves were making near what they were making on unemployment as at work in a previous company TH. She said that definitely increased participation in leaves. Definitely purposeful that isn't ever brought up in Flt Ops TH's.

Exactly. I'd be willing to give them a 10% window instead of the 5% one, thus doubling their operational flexibility. Our 50% will be defined as anywhere between 50% and 60%.

Just like the drive by media, this is all fluff no substance and filled with half-truths slanted towards the company.

He deftly said growth would be 50/50. Didn’t say he wanted existing flying to be 50/50.

Strange how the PWA Aeromexico JV agreement was never agreed upon over the last 4 years. Whispers that the issue was a non-commitment to 50/50 growth. :confused:

Pilot payroll decreasing “12%” most likely does not include the VEOP because those savings only began 3 weeks ago. Also, doesn’t reflect that although there were some re-instatements, CA positions are down. Those savings haven’t yet been fully realized. 12% down over a time period from April till now may be true. But it’s not the number that should be considered when calculating our contributions from today going forward. The real % that payroll is down from today, compared to this date 1 year ago, is far more than 12%.

But you’re not supposed to know that...

I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.

I like these guys less and less every time they open the their mouth.

Just watched the whole thing. More of my life wasted. These guys have their heads so far up their rest ends it’s mind boggling. Ed is so disingenuous and distorts the facts to fit his version. He poo poos (probably correctly in fairness) the rumor bookings may be up 150%. To which he shows his statistical acumen in saying the booking are probably 2 and have gone up 0.5. He should therefore be smart enough to realize our 12% is more than everyone else’s 40%.

it means 42% and then grieve it for free turkey certificates at thanksgiving.

What a putz....since when does "wasn't fair" count?

They left millions on the table when we needed to save money. Now we are going to lay off pilots
"Not Fair"

I found their pleas to save every dollar they can, “because every dollar we borrow is a dollar we have to pay back”, to be in stark opposition to leaving all those options on the table for the last 6 months...

They meant to say “save every dollar they can without seeming unfair to unskilled labor.”

Exactly the case