But what will the pilots say?

 

Ha, I was thinking the same thing. This should be the response to the company when they try to use the reverse at the negotiating table.

 

4% raise in 2020, 4% in 2022…when everyone else gets 4% raises next year and in 2024 when we finally get our contract, our contract better include retro

 

Lol.

I follow these forums quite a bit. It seems you have the reputation amongst your pilots of being a management toadie. So it's no surprise you would say that.

I made a comment the other day that they aren't having a recruiting problem since the classes are full, but my buddies over there who are actually involved in recruiting say that they are getting quantity but not quality. Apparently the days are gone when Delta was viewed as the best. Candidates with multiple offers are turning Delta down (20%) and going elsewhere. They have all heard about the crap trips and constant face slaps from management, like this deal today. The only ones you're going to keep getting are the die hard Delta or nothing kool aid drinkers who suicide rush the company because "it's the best" without caring about trip quality, advancement, or wide body opportunities, which UA and AA currently blow Delta away with.

But maybe that's what management wants. Pilots who will just drink the kool aid and not question anything. Like the non union employees. Who were just rewarded today.

I hear from my friends who are instructors that the quality of new hires has gotten so bad they are having personality/attitude issues and extra training. Apparently the lions share are now military guys without 121 time or medium to low time RJ pilots, who were never high on the maturity scale. Experienced pilots are taking their experience elsewhere.

So yeah, management shills like you will shout there's no recruiting problem, but the truth beneath the surface says otherwise. Expect that to continue unless your management wakes up and starts treating pilots fairly.

 

UA has more WBs, but AA doesn’t have that many more, and they also have more pilots. “Blow delta away” is hyperbole.

We’ve always hired mil pilots…what’s wrong with them now? What experienced pilots are you referring to that are going elsewhere? I imagine more of our pilots have always come from the regionals/mil than anywhere else.

 

That our GAS factor is now 4% lower?

 

Are you saying that Delta is still able to handpick any pilot they want? Or are you saying no college degree requirement, a new flow, a uniform allowance and hotels during training are starting to show the cracks in the fantasy world that Delta will always have an unlimited supply of the most experienced pilots knocking on the front door?

 

But put that backpack on and get the mission done!

 

AA blows delta away in retirements (quick advancement). UA blows Delta away in WB opportunities since they have a bunch more and new hires are getting them.

Nothing wrong with military pilots but if they've never flown 121 there's a quite a bit of a learning curve in training compared to those with lots of 121 experience. Do I really need to explain this? Look, I know you love your company and feel the need to defend it, but even you have to admit this is crap today.

If management was serious they would sit down with the union and quit stonewalling. Seems they owe the pilots at least 7% raises on day 1 now, but they have to keep up the façade that unions are bad and you get rewarded by keeping them out.

Maybe if the pilots completely lose enthusiasm things will change.

 

Exactly! What to they say...happy wife happy life! Can the same be applied to a pilot group or does that not matter?