Any "Latest & Greatest" about Delta?
01-14-2013 | 07:07 AM
Sho me da money!
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: B25, Left
Astute post.
The "new Pinnacle" is the first alter ego incepted through a partnership with management and ALPA. This airline is being created to create new value in outsourcing by reducing regional pay rates and working conditions. This will put pressure on our small jet rates in our next negotiations. If anyone thinks the 717 was anything more than a "kick the 100 seat jet can down the road" fix, they are kidding themselves.
It is so ugly that our own MEC is not particularly upset about being locked out of the room with Delta management. Nobody wants to be the father of this baby.
Allow me to contrast what is happening with what the Comair pilots fought for (and lost).
Comair:
I am concerned, actually fearful, of the new strategic direction we are taking here. We Delta pilots are becoming just another provider of Delta flying ... we are losing the distinguishing characteristic that has made us preeminent on the Delta property.
The "new Pinnacle" is the first alter ego incepted through a partnership with management and ALPA. This airline is being created to create new value in outsourcing by reducing regional pay rates and working conditions. This will put pressure on our small jet rates in our next negotiations. If anyone thinks the 717 was anything more than a "kick the 100 seat jet can down the road" fix, they are kidding themselves.
It is so ugly that our own MEC is not particularly upset about being locked out of the room with Delta management. Nobody wants to be the father of this baby.
Allow me to contrast what is happening with what the Comair pilots fought for (and lost).
Comair:
- Three way scope negotiations with Comair's MEC, Delta's MEC and Delta management
- Joint agreement on scope which bound Delta Air Lines
- Increasing pay rates by reducing outsourcing
- Exclusive negotiations between Pinnacle ALPA and Delta management
- Unilateral negotiation on scope which commits Delta Air Lines
- Decreasing pay rates which bring pressure on others in the lower tiers of our profession
- Delta pilots locked out of the room with their own management
- Delta scope redefined:Was all Delta flying (ie "Comair" performed "Delta" flying)
Now, just the flying Delta performs. Permitted flying belongs to someone else and can be committed within their contract
I am concerned, actually fearful, of the new strategic direction we are taking here. We Delta pilots are becoming just another provider of Delta flying ... we are losing the distinguishing characteristic that has made us preeminent on the Delta property.
This is not something our MEC should be absent from in any way shape or form. Just emailed and left a VM with my rep. Hope all do the same....
01-14-2013 | 07:10 AM
:-)
Joined: Feb 2007
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In other news ... 2014 Corvette Stingray is "appealing." Anyone doing the NAIAS ? Delta is the "Premier Sponsor" but best I can tell that does not mean any non public access to Delta employees. (at my previous employer if we sponsored it, we generally acted liked we owned the place and could get in on non public days )
01-14-2013 | 07:16 AM
Gets Weekends Off
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01-14-2013 | 07:18 AM
Can't abide NAI
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Douglas Aerospace post production Flight Test & Work Around Engineering bulletin dissembler
Our union's governance has broken down.
Most of our Reps are former military Officers. They understand the concept of bottom up, grass roots, representation, ... but ... in practice they are more naturally good Officers rather than trouble making union protagonists. Our Reps are good men.*
The powers that be planned this thing so there would be a delay over the Holidays and insufficient time to organize a political response. It will most likely be signed by ALPA's President.
Now it is more a matter of trying to figure out how to minimize the damage ... and nothing quick or easy comes to mind. We don't have the legal foundation to regain the ground we are giving up.
----------
* A dear friend sent me MLK's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." What is striking about this historical document is what Martin Luther King was replying to .... King's own associates had written a public letter calling his protests "unwise and untimely," that King's protests and mere presence were unwelcome in Alabama.
King replies "I am in Birmingham, because there is injustice here....We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly ...." Rev. King outlines the steps in any non violent campaign for reform:
- Collect the facts
- Negotiation
- Self-purification
- Direct Action
"We know that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor, it must be demanded ... I have never been involved in a direct action campaign which was "well timed" ....
""I have reached the regrettable conclusion ... the great stumbling block is the ... moderate who is more devoted to "order" than justice; who constantly says "I agree with the goal you seek, but I can not agree with ... action."
-------
It is worth recalling Reverend King took a bullet for his actions. None of the "moderate" supporters addressed in the letter even got shot at. It probably is not politically smart to call for direct action using ALPA's governing documents to affect change in our union; yet such action is the right thing to do.
( and no, I am in no way comparing our representational struggle with the work of Martin Luther King. I'm just taking some inspiration from a very well reasoned rebuttal to good men who recommended taking no action )
Last edited by Bucking Bar; 01-14-2013 at 07:53 AM.
01-14-2013 | 07:41 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Road construction signholder
That was as of a month ago at least. Things could have changed.
01-14-2013 | 07:46 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Road construction signholder
Many of us don't have an obsession with wearing five black stripes on our shoulders, especially if by doing so we are junior and staying junior for years on end.
However, the upgrade to captain (complete with higher pay) is a lot more appealing if you are either not junior to begin with (which is what a lot of senior 7ER F/Os are anticipating) or will remain junior for a fairly brief time as your category gets larger and larger about the same time as retirements finally kick in when that process is done, thereby keeping the upward movement continuing.
01-14-2013 | 07:53 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Kickin’ Back
Guess it's good I don't bet on teams........only one of the four I thought would make it, did!
01-14-2013 | 08:08 AM
Line Holder
Joined: Sep 2007
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01-14-2013 | 08:09 AM
The Brown Dot +1
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From: 777B
I'm not gonna quote that for the mods to spank me, but I just laughed my head off at the comment.
01-14-2013 | 08:13 AM
ATL A320 B
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: No longer MEM or 9, but still a guy.
Because what you are discussing sounds like the company is shifting back to a "bean counter" mentality, and would rather maintain status quo and wait for another section 6 opening rather than engage us "constructively." You also state that the company feels that they have "lost" financially on the LOA's of the recent past and is not interested in "engaging" us to continue the process of mid-contract tweaks.
Maybe I am just reading too much in to this...
Maybe I am just reading too much in to this...
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