Originally Posted by Gone Flying

the fact that he doubled down on the quick process and asked for our unity led me to believe there is at least something there. If the company had completely balked at our initial proposal we would have likely heard by now

I believe they have been meeting 3x weekly since the week of the 6th. I could be wrong but I thought that’s what I heard. And since we are only opening up a few sections it’s not like it should take forever if both sides are motivated.

im fully prepared for the long game but interested to see if there is a deal sooner.

Originally Posted by tennisguru

I just can't imagine the company agreeing to enough improvements that we are seeking in a short timeframe. I dunno, maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised. I also wonder if DALPA is trying to play this based on the timing of UA and AA's section 6. Maybe they're trying to get way from being in the cycle of always going first and doing the heavy lifting. Maybe they're counting on setting a quick bar on rates and having snap ups if/when AA/UA jump us in a year or two.

Originally Posted by tennisguru

I just can't imagine the company agreeing to enough improvements that we are seeking in a short timeframe. I dunno, maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised. I also wonder if DALPA is trying to play this based on the timing of UA and AA's section 6. Maybe they're trying to get way from being in the cycle of always going first and doing the heavy lifting. Maybe they're counting on setting a quick bar on rates and having snap ups if/when AA/UA jump us in a year or two.

Originally Posted by ancman

Given the attention that Flight Ops’ costs have received at the highest levels lately, combined with the geopolitical landscape, I’ll be highly skeptical of anything Gumm agrees to quickly.

Originally Posted by crazyjaydawg

I’d be highly skeptical if Gumm wants to agree to anything. But much like section 6 requires MEMRAT, the C-Suite has wants and needs to be fulfilled in the PWA.

As you mentioned, FOPs costs have gotten a lot of attention in the board room and I’m not sure that Gumm’s thoughts are as valued in high places as they once were.

Originally Posted by ancman

The C-suite’s short-term goals aren’t much different than Gumm’s. Decrease pilot payroll and improve the operation.

Even if they focus solely only on the latter, an acceptable quick deal to them will merely reallocate present contract value without raising cost. I think we’ll either see a cost neutral TA in a few weeks that trades away auto-accept, or (more likely) a pivot to the long game.

Originally Posted by FangsF15

This occurred to me too…. Could be good, could be bad…

Originally Posted by Whoopsmybad

In speaking with my reps, anything that is “cost neutral” will not make it to MEMRAT.

Originally Posted by TheProfessor

Just so we avoid the implication to the contrary, I genuinely appreciate the negotiation efforts, pain, and suffering the pilot group went through before I got to Delta to produce the nice contract we have today. Seriously.

The killing them with kindness routine is not to get flight ops to be nice to us. I completely agree that will have no effect and it’s not the intention. And I agree that hats off or bright colored lanyards will annoy them and more importantly shows unity.

But being nice to passengers while the operation is continually a dumpster fire isn’t going to “produce nice results” for flight ops. Non-cancelled and on time trips are infinitely more important than a tiny NPS boost from me saying bye to a passenger. Continuing to be a decent person reduces the credibility of a narrative that says pilots are greedy, difficult people. So we win by not being viewed unnecessarily in a negative light without giving up any significant negotiating position.

I do not see how being difficult with passengers and other employees is going to get us anything. Other employees do have power to make our lives more or less pleasant in small ways (no matter how much the captain is in charge or has the parking brake). Why increase animosity with them when we aren’t negotiating with them and they have no ability to influence the outcome? It’s pretty obvious flight ops is going to continue trying to malign us as a group and I’m simply advocating to improve—or at least not worsen—things outside of the section 6 battlefield. I may be new here, but I’m not new at being a human being or dealing with people.