Scoop, that's awesome and thanks so much. My Google searches were not turning out a concise synopsis but that letter nails it on the head.

All I can say is... WOW! I had heard of "the letter" before and I think even scanned over it, however did not read it in detail. The animosity is well founded...

I'm really not sure how the Comair MEC avoided being ousted by the junior people on their seniority list. Talk about a gift that keeps on giving.

WOW, I agree.

No kidding, I was a 2005 hire at OH(I guess I still am, I think my number may be up soon), and never had seen that letter before today....I heard it existed, and some people denied that the DAL pilots were required to resign seniority (obviously that is false). It is appalling, it wouldn't have cost them anything.

Unfortunately the 2 years I was here and JC was the chairman it seemed apparent he was swindling the pilot group, he left the union with tattered finances and in a state of disarray.

That letter pretty much sums up the vibe I got from him the only time I met him. He thinks very highly of himself.

OK -

• Comair is a Delta subsidiary, right?
• Comair management works for Delta management and in many cases IS DELTA MANAGEMENT?
• Why did the Delta MEC need the agreement of Comair's MEC Chairman when in fact, Delta could have unilaterally negotiated with their management for the preferential hiring of Delta pilots?
• Why didn't Bill Burgey simply negotiate an LOA with Delta Management to provide the solution he wanted? (if you say "impossible" then look up the LOA to provide simultaneous employment rights for Delta's bid restricted second officers!)

You can answer those questions to yourself and be a little smarter, or you can continue thrusting your bayonets into straw men that have no actual role in the matter other than to be popular scape goats.

JC Lawson lacked the power to do much of anything, which is why he tried to leverage the Delta furloughees. It was the only card he had and even then the Comair pilots were too marginalized to even pull that off.

I frankly can't stand JC Lawson. He undercut our (ASA's) rates to try to score some ASA jets while simultaneously sending "we support you" stickers to the ASA pilots while we were deep in pay negotiations. It was a double cross and he's a rascal for pulling such a move.

I don't like Lawson, but he's not responsible, or even capable of being responsible, for the outcome of furloughed Delta pilots.

As for holding Comair pilots responsible for their MEC Chairman, who himself wasn't "responsible" for the failure... well, that's just ridiculous.

I argued in favor of bringing any Delta pilots who were willing to come on board with ASA while they waited out the furlough. To a man they were excellent pilots with great attitudes, which amazes me given that we were taking the flying they had performed only months earlier at mainline. Those guys helped me get on board when Delta started hiring.

The Comair pilots did not get the same opportunity to make the friendships that help anyone's career. That's payback enough. They are going through a world of hurt right now and there are more clouds on the horizon. I wish their line guys and all of ours all the best in this economy.

Whats the old saying, take one person at a time?

Someone gave me that advice when I was denied a jumpseat as a Coex newbie by a CAL Captain over the ALPA/IACP vote. It helped.

Bar,

The fact is that ASA went out their way to help and hire DAL Pilots. Comair took a different path with the concurrence of their Pilot union. This isnt rumor or second hand it is documented fact. I don't give a rats a$$ about "What could or should have been." It happened and it was shameful - whoever is to blame.
If the union had no clout how come the policy was reversed when DAL started hiring? I say let the guys read the memo and decide for themselves, they are fully capable of coming to their own conclusions.


OBTW - In reference to the below - Can you point out where I did that? I am not in the habit of "thrusting bayonets" or are you referring to simply posting a letter that their MEC promulgated in the first place?

"You can answer those questions to yourself and be a little smarter, or you can continue thrusting your bayonets into straw men that have no actual role in the matter other than to be popular scape goats."

Scoop

Something must be afoot... Anybody else notice the conspicuously absent ACL?

Perhaps he's doing his real job. No, not flying, gaining intel for us.