done, just did it.

Please. That was more than offset by the major leapfrog we received from the Delta pilots and ties into why Moak wants our trip rig upgrades to wait till SOC.

That is exactly right!

Further more, DALPA has insisted that our grievances go through them and they will present them to Delta management. There is no interest for them to do so on this issue for the above reason. Hence, they support management on waiting till BP5, which is probably near or after SOC.

Can you explain what you are referring to?

It is becoming VERY political. I see big time grievances coming.

I think the whole trip rig issue is being blown out of proportion. Either way all pilots on the SLI now will be senior to any new hires. I personally could care less if NW hires now or the combined airline hires in six months - either way the guys will be junior to all of us. As far as NW guys getting upgrades right now - great! Let them upgrade and seat lock now in a positon that they want so they won't be bidding off again soon.

Scoop - looking for that silver lining.

Scoop,

Thank you for your post, however, your mec is of a completely different mindset. While 300 upgrades may not sound like a lot but when you take into account that the upgrades that we are talking about are widebody positions, narrow body captains and three hundred, or actually more, pilots on the list then it becomes more than just something to scoff at.

Regardless of what Bucking Bar says we have already lost close to 280 pilots since the beginning of 08 (110 in the last six months) and we will lose another 100-150 in 09. So, all you guys can deduct that from your new number, however we are running short and yes, mr. Bar, we are going to be well short by this summer. All we are asking for is the Dal mec to support us in asking for the implementation of the work rules that Dal enjoys and scoop is correct in that the more positions that us Nwa guys bid within our own airline will be less guys bidding your aircraft.

Honest question here so don't shoot me. How has DALPA prevented you from having the trip rigs? Doesn't the contract pretty much spell out when the rigs have to apply to you?

great question.

It has gone to the grievance level. If Moak and company shelve our grievances then we will have no avenue to fight it and have it implemented sooner than soc. On Jan, 17th, I suppose it may come to us just being one mec with Moak being the head of it. That is why you are hearing so much about the issue.

No. Trip rigs are a totally gray area unfortunately. As for the rest, the contract spells out that "Bid period 5" is when many of the joint contract improvements apply to NWA pilots. Problem is, nobody at NWA or DAL is even willing to speculate when Bid period 1 will be, much less BP5.

Carl

Unfortunately, Carl, that statement is false. While the wording in the contract could be better, everyone in the room when those provisions were negotiated, except one guy, agree with the current interpretation. And there were lots of guys in the room.....

PG

Uhhh, I thought we were "moving on" as I was chastised to do by some other former NWA guys. Looks like notsomuch.

So, is debate about the SLI alive again or just for the NWA guys? Just trying to figure out where the lines are here (lest I make Capn and Carl mad again).

Wrong Pineapple. There is not consensus...thus the grievance workup. Our guys are just like your guys in this regard. When there is clear language, we don't bother with a grievance. When there is not clear language, we do.

Carl

This is an attempt to move on, from the old contract to the new. Your boy Moak is trying to stop it so he can hand over 300+ NWA upgrades to the Delta crew. He got our retirements and is now going for the upgrades. One last shiv in the ribs.

Maybe I've forgotten, but I don't recall a post from you that I thought was stupid. Your's have been pretty good.

Carl

Capn, he's "our boy" Moak now. Old Delta guys aren't enamored with him either. Some of us think he sold us down the river. Welcome. Your continued reference to DAL guys "leapfrogging" NWA guys is particularly worrisome. There are lots of DAL captains that were "leapfrogged."

You're right Carl, my mistake. It wasn't you. Yours have been good as well.

I'm glad Moak is not everybodys boy...Are you implying he would be had he managed to get more for the Delta folks by giving NWA less?

As far as the SLI, it is what it is and most everyone has come to live with it. That being said, there was some leapfrogging on both sides but there is no way you could say with a straight face that Delta bore the brunt.

Ultimately, that is not the argument that I was grieving. My grievance is with Moak stalling on our trip rig. It's clear why he is doing it, which I have mentioned above. One last shiv in NWAs ribs.

Either way, my grievance is not with you. Don't get too upset.:)

Seattle Council 54 Flash Update

January 5, 2009


TO: All SEA Pilots

FROM: Jim Stuart, Council 54 Chairman
Jeff Panioto, Council 54 Vice Chairman
Art Aaron, Council 54 Secretary-Treasurer


This is your LEC perspective regarding our current situation.

1. First and foremost each of us must focus on SAFETY. With the dramatic
changes that have and will occur in our company, it can be easy at times to
be distracted from the task at hand when we are in the cockpit. Take care.

2. Please read the Ziplines published by our MEC officers on December 22,
2008. Your Council 54 officers wholeheartedly support the position
articulated in that message. That Ziplines also effectively speaks to several
important issues confronting all of us.

3. The NWA and Delta MECs are scheduled to meet the middle of this month for
the purpose of combining into one MEC. The timing of this event is problematic because we have not resolved three major issues before us.

.. Determine a fair dispute resolution process for the millions of dollars
at stake for the premerger NWA pilots. So far, Captain Moak has insisted that
the former Delta ALPA pilots prosecute the grievances on behalf of the
former NWA pilots. Former Delta pilots, in discussions with Delta
management, would then determine what a fair settlement would be for the former NWA
pilots.

How motivated do you think the former Delta pilots will be in
getting money from management on our behalf? Remember Letter 19! Former Delta ALPA,
in discussions with Delta management, was willing to have the former NWA
pilots be on a B-scale for three years while they continued to get pay
raises.

.. Determine a fair dispute resolution process for seniority list arguments
resulting from the acquisition of replacement aircraft, furloughs, or many
other critical issues.

.. Determine a fair dispute resolution process regarding the transition of
the former NWA pilots to the new Delta pilot working agreement. Of
particular note so far, the former Delta ALPA and Delta management want to
keep the former NWA pilots on different duty rigs and monthly caps until
basically SOC (implementation of single operating certificate). That means
not only are we paid less than the former Delta pilots for the next year or so,
but it might also deprive us of hundreds of pilot jobs due to the staffing
difference between the two contracts.

Were this to continue, we would be on a partial B-scale due to duty rigs,
and we will miss out on promotions to higher seats. Of course, after SOC, the
former Delta pilots can bid on all the non-fenced seats of the former NWA
pilots that will come open as a result of the increased staffing required by
the new Delta pilot working agreement. Delta ALPA is content with their
position, which again aligns itself with management against the former NWA
pilots.

All three of these issues are in conflict with the former Delta pilots'
parochial interests. We do not want to take control of issues that pertain
exclusively to the former Delta pilots because that would be inappropriate,
and we certainly feel that it is inappropriate for them to control the issues
that affect only us. This conflict of interest is egregious and it MUST BE
remedied prior to the melding of the MECs. Any airline union would want
nothing less. Does not the concept of "duty of fair representation" come to
mind?

4. Throughout this merger process it is apparent that ALPA National has
chosen to side with the former Delta pilots possibly because of their size.
Note, for example, the signing of Letter 19 by Captain Prater leaving it up
to the former NWA pilots to manufacture leverage to avoid an inferior
three-year contract when contrasted with the former Delta pilots. Look also
at the ruling of the Executive Council in defining initial implementation of the
seniority list in a way that hinders the former NWA pilots from having an
effective voice at "the table" for those issues exclusively their own.

It seems that ALAP National will allow a larger pilot group to steamroll a
smaller group. The pilots of any ALPA carrier should take note of what has
happened to us if they believe there is a possibility that they too could be
involved in a merger? Is it not elementary that each member of ALPA needs
to be treated with genuine concern and not empty rhetoric?

One notes the decertification of the four ALPA carriers involved in their
two mergers. The continual trampling on a minority, particularly a minority of
significant size, not only makes a mockery of a union, it leads to
ruination of that union.

5. Captain Moak and Delta ALPA have had a spotty record so far in "team
building" with us. Their actions have not matched their rhetoric of
brotherhood.

Putting everything that has happened in the past behind us, which is
essential for our mutual success, is possible only if their actions
recognize our value to our union and our corporation. Taking the control of our
specific issues (listed above as 3.a.b.c) from us this month is not
conducive to the success of this body. The fact that Delta ALPA refuses to support what
we, or any union, would require in this circumstance is not only
shortsighted, it is a critical misjudgment that could be avoided.

Furthermore, Captain Moak and Delta ALPA have given no signal that they are
interested in sharing any actual power in the governance of the 12,000-plus
pilots. They barely outnumber us (13 voters to 12 voters) on the new DAL
MEC, and they apparently want all the committee chairs as well as effective
control of the committees themselves. They want to control the MEC officer
billets of importance as well. Oh, to be sure, we will have some token
positions to make it "look better." Sounds just like the Karl Rove plan of
the rule of our country by 51 percent that we have seen for the better part of
this decade. How did that work out for our United States of America? After
eight long years and a lot of damage, even some hard-core Republicans wanted
to go in a very different direction. Let's do this right so that we can be
the effective union that we are capable of being for the benefit of our
entire membership and truly set the gold standard for the entire
international association!

6. The NWA MEC meets next Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to discuss
strategy. We have a problem with some of the members of our own MEC with
regard to their responsibilities, and they are directly undermining the effort of
the NWA MEC to represent and advocate for you in the issues listed above.
For instance, DTW Secretary-Treasurer Thomas Tucker divulged some of our
MEC's confidential strategy session in an update to the DTW pilots. The
outgoing MSP FO rep, Jon Lewis, has e-mailed the DAL MEC his nonsupport of
the NWA MEC's position. Jon Lewis HAS VOTED IN FAVOR of our strategy! He even
voted in favor of filing the grievance over the trip/duty rig problem! We
only found out Jon's disagreement with us was when he e-mailed ONLY THE DAL MEC
and EVP Ray Miller and gave them the Council 1 update, voicing his
disagreement with Council 1 chairman's perspective on the update! But EVP
Miller responded to BOTH the NWA and DAL MEC to rebut the Council 1 chairman's
update that had pointed out Captain Miller's vote against NWA pilot issues.

The NWA EVP, Ray Miller, advocated against the NWA MEC's position at the
last Executive Council meeting. During a question at the October election of
the EVP, Captain Miller stated that he does not like the NWA MEC officer
leadership and has a poor working relationship with many members of the MEC.
He also stated that he could not wait to see the MECs merged!"

Is it possible that these individuals are undermining us to curry favor with
Delta ALPA?

7. Captain Moak and the Delta MECSince your MEC officers have been
dealing with Captain Moak and the Delta MEC, we have consistently told you
that actions speak louder than words. At the arbitration hearings, the Delta
team told the arbitrators the economic windfall that the former NWA pilots
were getting with the new contract.

What the arbitrators and some of you are not aware of is the fact that there
was a better contract tentatively agreed too if Captain Moak and the Delta
MEC would have agreed to binding arbitration in the event that a negotiated
seniority list could not be achieved. They chose not to and gave up money
for everyone as that TA subsequently dropped dead!

Captain Moak and the Delta MEC then moved forward without the NWA pilots and
signed Letter 19 at less money for themselves and LOWERED the pay rates on
the A330, an aircraft that their own pilots would someday fly! Is not the
purpose of a union, along with safety, to enhance the pay and working
conditions of its members both current and future?

In 2002, after 9/11, and in a tough economic environment, NWA management
(under Richard Anderson) and NWA ALPA agreed to a two-year contract
extension
that included 10.25% more pay by the end. In 2008, Captain Moak and the
Delta MEC agreed to a contract that was four years long, with pay raises of
5%,
4%, 4%, and 4%, and increases in the DC of 1%, 1%, and 1%. Equity was also
achieved. To make this merger go forward, Delta management needed scope
relief from Captain Moak and the Delta MEC. This was significant leverage
that Captain Moak and the Delta MEC had! After a 40% pay cut in Chapter 11,
was the 5% raise and equity good enough? By truly working with Captain
Stevens and the NWA MEC, could we have achieved more? We knew we had a 7%
initial
raise on 1/1/09. What could we have achieved by working together? 9%, 10%
12%? We will never know.

Finally, we ask by disenfranchising a large group of pilots, how does the
new Delta MEC that ALPA National and Captain Moak with the old Delta
MEC are in such a frantic rush to formhave a snowball's chance in
hell to succeed? Is the foundation sound or is it faulty? It might look good
on day 2, but how will it hold up in the time to come?

We will begin to know on January 17, 2009, how the foundation is
constructed!

Fraternally and in unity,

Jim Stuart, Chairman



Is this how all NWA Union Leadership Think?

The rank and file NW pilots I've talked with, are not this way.

Just wondering...

They remind me of Walter Sobchack, but I'd still bowl with them.

YGBSM....I can't believe this went out to the members. Unbelievable.

Totally "peachy" here Capn. Not trying to infer anything other than reality. Delta didn't score any more than NWA did. That's my point. Maybe its semantics. As to Moak, he is who is he is. You guys may feel slighted. Some of us do as well. Especially captains who are moving backward. Your continued use of the phrase "leapfrog" is inaccurate and false. Both sides were "leapfrogged." I don't understand the whole "trip rig" thing. All I know is that we are undergoing a major displacement. Maybe you feel the pain, maybe you don't. That being said, we're all on the same roster now with the same uniforms. Let's get it on.

No, Carl, you're not like us. When there's not clear language, WE go back to the people sitting in the room and see what the intent of all parties was. When those parties agree, and on this issue almost all of them do (again, except one), the issue is dropped.

I guess this explains why NWA has 400+ outstanding grievances!

PG

It was me! Hey, I said I was sorry. Bad mood and a margarita.......never a good combo. Buzz, you're a voice of reason on here.

Ferd <------normally a good humor guy:D

Maybe, but I would also argue that it (the 400+) mostly has to do with the guys we work for. I'm hoping for the better work environment you guys enjoy.

Ferd

You're right...I guess we are different. We have 400 grievances because we don't open up by saying: "you had me at hello."

Our old management (DAL's new management) are going to just LOVE the way you look at labor issues.

Carl

Perhaps. But I can't think of too many who could claim with a straight face that NWA's contract was superior to ours pre-merger. In fact you all are angry because of a delay in receiving the more favorable work rules that we had all along!

I'm more in favor of "deeds, not words." You can grieve all you want and criticize our "close relationship" with mgmt. I will take that and our superior pre-merger contract--and fewer grievances.

That said, we have our share of grievances--thing is, we win nearly all of them because we don't file them as an afterthought every time we don't like the way mgmt looked at us. We actually determine that we have a strong case before leaping, as opposed to just knee-jerk filing to "feel good" which is apparently the NWALPA way. At some point people start ignoring the boy who cried wolf. DALPA on the other hand, only cries wolf when the real thing is barking at you.

Can you VD to a seat without any vacancies?

Herk,

I don't think you know a thing about us or how we work with our old management. Let's see how all this works out, the new MEC meets later and agreements may well be made.

As far as our old contract is concerned, we are trying to get back to our pre-bankruptcy rates too. We actually had a good (not perfect) contract too. If we had more time maybe we could have done more than adopt and go. It's up to you young guys in the future.

Ferd

Yes, as long as the person being displaced out of the category is junior to the person who would have been displaced but isn't now because someone senior took their place on a VD. It's called a contingintcy displacement. It protects seniority because the most junior guy is the one who gets the MD. That's why it is important to have a current displacement bid in, even if there are no surpluses in your category.

the question is why is dalpa not doing everything it can to fight for what is right for it's new members? Why does it have to take an uprising to bring things to attention?

For instance, A grievance is getting filed on behalf of all fnwa pilots whom hasn't reached the 12 year cap yet because mgmt is telling us that our longevity increases will stay under the old Nwa way but probation, dpma,etc will be followed per the contract. That is bs! That equates to several thousand dollars per pilot. There is alot of this crap being pulled and dalapa isn't doing anything to help correct it for it's newest members Aka fnwapilots. This our union leaders are busting a to work on the several hundred grievances. Mgmt is picking and choosing what they want to move forward with in the implimentation of the contract for us fnwa pilots and dalapa seems to be unconcerned about it's members getting bent thus why our Mec members want to handle our grievances.

What do you guys feel is right? Is it ok that mgmt is picking and choosing on what they want to comply with and when?

End of rant (for now) ;)

I'm floored something like this went out to the membership! Is this normal for NALPA? Are you guys used to reading this kind of snarky, childish, divisive self-serving crap from your leadership?!

When I think of correspondence I like to receive from the people I've chosen to represent me I prefer truthful, well though out, logical communications that sound like they were written by an adult not a petulant teenager.

What's sad is there may be some legitimate issues buried in that diatribe but it will be written off as a divisive drivel. Perhaps rightfully so.

Is this guy running for something? This seems like a cheap political attack add filled with half-truths, innuendo and yes hyperbole.

Two points to your answer. First the MEC's are not merged. DALPA at this point does not represent the NWA pilots and can't legally file a grievance. NWALPA has done that which is correct.
The second point is simple. There seems to be a disagreement over what was negotiated and what the intent was. The DALPA people involved believe the companies view is correct. They are not going to stand up in front of a system board and lie. They would not file a grievance they have zero chance of winning. I have read the contract and transition letter. Can you show me in the contract where you believe this issue and the issue of duty rigs should apply as you mention. Its very important to maintain integrity and honesty in the process. You can't change facts or slant your view to support your position. If you do that and grieve everything you get a rep with the arbitration community (small group that gets used over and over again) and you start getting unfavorable rulings on issues where you are right. Having said all that I believe there are some behind the scenes talks going on with management to convince them a side letter on some issues may be in their best interest.

I think you're right. They'll finally be dealing with a group with some INTEGRITY!

Good day.

PG

Perhaps their attitude toward you was a reflection of your continual antagonism toward them and within yourselves. For a couple of years now, we have been no-kidding for real trying to change labor relations at Delta toward a kinder relationship. Overall, we have adopted a trust but verify strategy, and it seems to be working.

I realize that you guys think that you invented the light bulb, but there are other ways of doing things. Many of them even <gasp> work.

BTW, intent DOES matter with regard to contract language. Our CA admin team is second to NOBODY. The vast majority of grievances are won before they are even filed. I have filed many of them. I have even lost 1 or 2 in the distant past due to the fact that former DALPA negotiators were called to testify intent of the language which was negotiated under their tenure. You are not going to win this battle.

I agree with alot of what you say hut the company is picking and choosing what it wants to comply with on specific issues. In my example do you believe it's ok to single the Nwa pilots out and give us our longevity invreases under a different process than is in the contract? From what I have seen and can tell once the cbaid happened and the rates changed so did the fact of longevity increases take place at date of hire not 2-3 months later like the old Nwa way. The company is using the dal probation stance and dpma per the contract but singled out the longevity increases. Typical mgmt IMHO

I also didn't say I wanted dalpa filing the grievances. I just said dalpa isn't trying to help the Nwa mec in righting the cluster aka as contract implimation. Our mec wants to be the ones who handle our grievances to make sure they are handled properally. Wouldn't you want dalpa to fight for what you believe is right?

With that said, I agree that the letter is out there but our mec has been fighting with mgmt for years, (your new mgmt) and the mgmt team doesn't seem to give anything up without a fight. If it's a grey area which alot of this is, due to the fact of the quickness of the merger, mgmt fights it. Our mec is used to this and is used to fighting for it's membership which is why we have a union imho. The disfunctional and infighting in the mec needs to stop though because that takes away from the effectivness of our union.

You guys having fun yet? ;) just another day living "the dream" right ;)

Have a great week guys!

They are going to play you like a fiddle, ooops, have.......

Integrity? You mean like when you paint a picture of an entire group with one stroke like in your post? :rolleyes: thanks for the demonstration. :cool:

What do you want? What good would that do? FWIW, I'm sympathetic to your grievance and think we are being whipsawed, but my support is meaningless.

Others have written the DMEC does not have the legitimate power to advance your grievances, so what exactly would you want them to do? Write a letter of support? Frankly, I think they are stuck having to defend an adverse SLI result and still holding up "the merger is good for us" sign, although the majority of pilots are coming to the realization they just took a ten year step backwards in bidding power.

I'm on your side of this debate, but if you think through - three - four steps ahead then you realize the DMEC is correctly keeping its powder dry while your LEC Chairman appears to have fired before he aimed his rifle.

Just relax and be pleased with your equipment upgrades and pay. ... I had three memos in my box when I got back to base after working straight through from the 20th to January 5th with minimum 24 hour breaks every six days. The first was "Hope you enjoyed your time with your families over the Holidays" the second was "Thanks for all of your hard work, the airline had excellent performance numbers" the third was "Update your displacement preferences, we're downgrading 134, 767 pilots in Atlanta."

With all this bad news, I'm still pretty happy to have a job in my preferred base.

[quote=whitt767;532066]Seattle Council 54 Flash Update

January 5, 2009


TO: All SEA Pilots

FROM: Jim Stuart, Council 54 Chairman
Jeff Panioto, Council 54 Vice Chairman
Art Aaron, Council 54 Secretary-Treasurer


This is your LEC perspective regarding our current situation.

1. First and foremost each of us must focus on SAFETY. With the dramatic
changes that have and will occur in our company, it can be easy at times to
be distracted from the task at hand when we are in the cockpit. Take care.

2. Please read the Ziplines published by our MEC officers on December 22,
2008. Your Council 54 officers wholeheartedly support the position
articulated in that message. That Ziplines also effectively speaks to several
important issues confronting all of us.

3. The NWA and Delta MECs are scheduled to meet the middle of this month for
the purpose of combining into one MEC. The timing of this event is problematic because we have not resolved three major issues before us.

.. Determine a fair dispute resolution process for the millions of dollars
at stake for the premerger NWA pilots. So far, Captain Moak has insisted that
the former Delta ALPA pilots prosecute the grievances on behalf of the
former NWA pilots. Former Delta pilots, in discussions with Delta
management, would then determine what a fair settlement would be for the former NWA
pilots.

How motivated do you think the former Delta pilots will be in
getting money from management on our behalf? Remember Letter 19! Former Delta ALPA,
in discussions with Delta management, was willing to have the former NWA
pilots be on a B-scale for three years while they continued to get pay
raises.

.. Determine a fair dispute resolution process for seniority list arguments
resulting from the acquisition of replacement aircraft, furloughs, or many
other critical issues.

.. Determine a fair dispute resolution process regarding the transition of
the former NWA pilots to the new Delta pilot working agreement. Of
particular note so far, the former Delta ALPA and Delta management want to
keep the former NWA pilots on different duty rigs and monthly caps until
basically SOC (implementation of single operating certificate). That means
not only are we paid less than the former Delta pilots for the next year or so,
but it might also deprive us of hundreds of pilot jobs due to the staffing
difference between the two contracts.

Were this to continue, we would be on a partial B-scale due to duty rigs,
and we will miss out on promotions to higher seats. Of course, after SOC, the
former Delta pilots can bid on all the non-fenced seats of the former NWA
pilots that will come open as a result of the increased staffing required by
the new Delta pilot working agreement. Delta ALPA is content with their
position, which again aligns itself with management against the former NWA
pilots.

All three of these issues are in conflict with the former Delta pilots'
parochial interests. We do not want to take control of issues that pertain
exclusively to the former Delta pilots because that would be inappropriate,
and we certainly feel that it is inappropriate for them to control the issues
that affect only us. This conflict of interest is egregious and it MUST BE
remedied prior to the melding of the MECs. Any airline union would want
nothing less. Does not the concept of "duty of fair representation" come to
mind?

4. Throughout this merger process it is apparent that ALPA National has
chosen to side with the former Delta pilots possibly because of their size.
Note, for example, the signing of Letter 19 by Captain Prater leaving it up
to the former NWA pilots to manufacture leverage to avoid an inferior
three-year contract when contrasted with the former Delta pilots. Look also
at the ruling of the Executive Council in defining initial implementation of the
seniority list in a way that hinders the former NWA pilots from having an
effective voice at "the table" for those issues exclusively their own.

It seems that ALAP National will allow a larger pilot group to steamroll a
smaller group. The pilots of any ALPA carrier should take note of what has
happened to us if they believe there is a possibility that they too could be
involved in a merger? Is it not elementary that each member of ALPA needs
to be treated with genuine concern and not empty rhetoric?

One notes the decertification of the four ALPA carriers involved in their
two mergers. The continual trampling on a minority, particularly a minority of
significant size, not only makes a mockery of a union, it leads to
ruination of that union.

5. Captain Moak and Delta ALPA have had a spotty record so far in "team
building" with us. Their actions have not matched their rhetoric of
brotherhood.

Putting everything that has happened in the past behind us, which is
essential for our mutual success, is possible only if their actions
recognize our value to our union and our corporation. Taking the control of our
specific issues (listed above as 3.a.b.c) from us this month is not
conducive to the success of this body. The fact that Delta ALPA refuses to support what
we, or any union, would require in this circumstance is not only
shortsighted, it is a critical misjudgment that could be avoided.

Furthermore, Captain Moak and Delta ALPA have given no signal that they are
interested in sharing any actual power in the governance of the 12,000-plus
pilots. They barely outnumber us (13 voters to 12 voters) on the new DAL
MEC, and they apparently want all the committee chairs as well as effective
control of the committees themselves. They want to control the MEC officer
billets of importance as well. Oh, to be sure, we will have some token
positions to make it "look better." Sounds just like the Karl Rove plan of
the rule of our country by 51 percent that we have seen for the better part of
this decade. How did that work out for our United States of America? After
eight long years and a lot of damage, even some hard-core Republicans wanted
to go in a very different direction. Let's do this right so that we can be
the effective union that we are capable of being for the benefit of our
entire membership and truly set the gold standard for the entire
international association!

6. The NWA MEC meets next Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to discuss
strategy. We have a problem with some of the members of our own MEC with
regard to their responsibilities, and they are directly undermining the effort of
the NWA MEC to represent and advocate for you in the issues listed above.
For instance, DTW Secretary-Treasurer Thomas Tucker divulged some of our
MEC's confidential strategy session in an update to the DTW pilots. The
outgoing MSP FO rep, Jon Lewis, has e-mailed the DAL MEC his nonsupport of
the NWA MEC's position. Jon Lewis HAS VOTED IN FAVOR of our strategy! He even
voted in favor of filing the grievance over the trip/duty rig problem! We
only found out Jon's disagreement with us was when he e-mailed ONLY THE DAL MEC
and EVP Ray Miller and gave them the Council 1 update, voicing his
disagreement with Council 1 chairman's perspective on the update! But EVP
Miller responded to BOTH the NWA and DAL MEC to rebut the Council 1 chairman's
update that had pointed out Captain Miller's vote against NWA pilot issues.

The NWA EVP, Ray Miller, advocated against the NWA MEC's position at the
last Executive Council meeting. During a question at the October election of
the EVP, Captain Miller stated that he does not like the NWA MEC officer
leadership and has a poor working relationship with many members of the MEC.
He also stated that he could not wait to see the MECs merged!"

Is it possible that these individuals are undermining us to curry favor with
Delta ALPA?

7. Captain Moak and the Delta MECSince your MEC officers have been
dealing with Captain Moak and the Delta MEC, we have consistently told you
that actions speak louder than words. At the arbitration hearings, the Delta
team told the arbitrators the economic windfall that the former NWA pilots
were getting with the new contract.

What the arbitrators and some of you are not aware of is the fact that there
was a better contract tentatively agreed too if Captain Moak and the Delta
MEC would have agreed to binding arbitration in the event that a negotiated
seniority list could not be achieved. They chose not to and gave up money
for everyone as that TA subsequently dropped dead!

Captain Moak and the Delta MEC then moved forward without the NWA pilots and
signed Letter 19 at less money for themselves and LOWERED the pay rates on
the A330, an aircraft that their own pilots would someday fly! Is not the
purpose of a union, along with safety, to enhance the pay and working
conditions of its members both current and future?

In 2002, after 9/11, and in a tough economic environment, NWA management
(under Richard Anderson) and NWA ALPA agreed to a two-year contract
extension
that included 10.25% more pay by the end. In 2008, Captain Moak and the
Delta MEC agreed to a contract that was four years long, with pay raises of
5%,
4%, 4%, and 4%, and increases in the DC of 1%, 1%, and 1%. Equity was also
achieved. To make this merger go forward, Delta management needed scope
relief from Captain Moak and the Delta MEC. This was significant leverage
that Captain Moak and the Delta MEC had! After a 40% pay cut in Chapter 11,
was the 5% raise and equity good enough? By truly working with Captain
Stevens and the NWA MEC, could we have achieved more? We knew we had a 7%
initial
raise on 1/1/09. What could we have achieved by working together? 9%, 10%
12%? We will never know.

Finally, we ask by disenfranchising a large group of pilots, how does the
new Delta MEC that ALPA National and Captain Moak with the old Delta
MEC are in such a frantic rush to formhave a snowball's chance in
hell to succeed? Is the foundation sound or is it faulty? It might look good
on day 2, but how will it hold up in the time to come?

We will begin to know on January 17, 2009, how the foundation is
constructed!

Fraternally and in unity,

Jim Stuart, Chairman














So, ahhhhh, is this your example of integrity and professionalism. This should embarass all of us (fraternally and in unity!!)