Originally Posted by sinca3 (Post 1310699)

I must be having computer issues at home b/c I can't get anything to open. I can get to the bid awards page but when I click on the A's link it doesn't open. It doesn't do anything. Anyone else having issues or is it my computer and lack of tech sense to get it working?

Originally Posted by sailingfun (Post 1310012)

First, I never stated that. Retread my post. The post was about the AF and other joint ventures and unrealistic expectations some have on how they should be structured. There are political realities involved. If Delta made a choice today to be a pure standalone airline today where do you see Delta in 5 years. Do you honestly believe as some seem to that we should do half the flying to and from France? Do you believe such an agreement which would relegate AF to a small percentage of that traffic compared to the combined presence of all US airlines could ever be negotiated? My post was in reference to that traffic. It was not in reference to section one which requires we fly 50 percent of all transatlantic traffic.
On that subject I have spoken with my reps on this issue and put in a call to one of the people who monitor the situation. The first point is the company is in compliance with the contract at this point in time. I have asked that we get the company plan to comply. I am waiting for a return call to verify the numbers. If they are as posted here then I will write a letter to management asking questions as I have done often in the past. The letter will be signed. Most forum cowboys tend to be cowards afraid to sign their names. I suspect I am one of the few posters here who have not once but several times received a summons from senior management to include the then CEO over letters I have written.

Originally Posted by Timbo (Post 1310065)

The quickest way to find out exactly what's going on, and where the sims are, is to pick up the phone and call your Fleet Captain, that's what he's there for. Ask him all those questions, he will know the answers.

If you are ATL Based, until Jan. 1, you will have to pay for your own motel if you need one in ATL. I use the Motel 6 on Virginia Av. about $46 out the door.

Originally Posted by sailingfun (Post 1310105)

I have some feedback from the calls I made. The numbers posted by Bar are correct. The company is however still in compliance with the contract so there is no direct action that can be taken at the moment. The company could meet the required flying percentages however it would require both a increase on our end and a pulldown by AF. They are not expected by the union to do that and they are expected to be in non compliance. The union intends to aggressively pursue remedies to the situation however at the moment they can't do anything. It does however provide us leverage in future JV discussions and there will have to be a penalty to the company for non compliance. At a minimum I would expect a financial penalty equal to the flying that would be required to bring the percentages into contractual compliance.

Originally Posted by sailingfun (Post 1310179)

Your statement is not exactly true. It was a negotiation. In return for the company getting the 3 year window we got a higher percentage of the flying. 2.4 percent if I recall. I have since my last post been contacted again by people directly involved. There are some interesting numbers. The first thing that needs to be understood is with the Alitalia agreement the company had to grow our share of flying to be in compliance long term. That is part of the 2.4 percent mentioned above if a snapshot had been taken the day they joined the alliance. Had we kept the 1 year window and the metric when Alitalia was added they would be in compliance. That is why they got the 3 year window, allowing them time to add the additional required flying. That has not happened because of the economy in Europe. We have not lost flying percentage wise to AF/KLM. The pull down has been equal on both sides. We did not however gain the flying we were supposed to get with the 3 year window. I thought we had made a greater pull down but that is not the case. In fact in terms of block hours our percentage is up from around 53 percent of the transatlantic JV hours to 55 percent today. The agreement is based of course on a metric more complicated then straight block hours however block hours equates directly with jobs.
We have some really qualified people working on this and monitoring the situation. If pilots have concerns they are more then willing to talk with you and explain things in terms that the layman can understand. All it takes is a few phone calls. The union is well aware the company may fall out of compliance and has plans in place to work on equitable solutions. They can't however take any action until they are actually in violation of the agreement.

Originally Posted by tsquare (Post 1310715)

Prepare grievance papers.

We need not wait for any "future" JV agreements. We have just been presented with one.

Money would be good, but not the preferential remedy IMHO.

Originally Posted by Sink r8 (Post 1310267)

. It is an anonymous board, EOS.

Originally Posted by tsquare (Post 1310721)

For some of you it might be.

Originally Posted by Bucking Bar (Post 1310720)

TSquare,

We can't grieve it until there is non compliance. I've been pushing for at least a letter from our MEC Chair (or MEC body), but have been told that everyone is aware of the issue. ALPA seems to have accepted management's explanation that Air France is not as "nimble" with capacity reductions as we are.

Whether or not 50% is "fair" does not much matter. 50% is what was agreed to. I do my best as an employee to perform every service I am contracted to do (and more). I would like the same measure of good faith reciprocated by Delta Air Lines (who pays for their share of the Air France operation).

I have asked my Reps to direct corrective action, to restore our flying, if renegotiation takes place prior to the cure period in the JV.

Originally Posted by Bucking Bar (Post 1310720)

I have asked my Reps to direct corrective action, to restore our flying, if renegotiation takes place prior to the cure period in the JV.