Originally Posted by Bucking Bar

I know, I know. But the use of the word "pithy" to describe a f-NWA contractual provision was ... well, uhm, brave?

Of course we will wait and see what Captain Dominguez has to say.

As for resolutions, I'm still stuck on our MEC's exclusion from Delta's pilot labor negotiations for "Delta Flying" with an alter ego pilot group. ALPA's Representation Dept is tasked with justifying why they did nothing wrong, which is a feedback loop for an echo chamber if ever there was one. Just my opinion that the biggest fish we have to fry right now is our representational exclusion.

Our Reps do an outstanding job as Reps. There is also the responsibility to manage our union's business internally. A line pilot does not have an easy path to resolve issues which involve the management of the union. ALPA's Officers have to step up and enforce our Constitution and Bylaws.

In other words, I am confident in the team we have now when we are in the room negotiating. We can not be confident in anything when we are locked out of the room while management negotiates "Delta flying."

Originally Posted by Rogue24

If you didn't realize that how this issue is being managed is totally different than pervious MEC bodies and Administrations. It may not be perfect, and that is OK. DALPA and we the pilots are dealing with trying to find any solution to a mediocre situation with some leverage. It about improving scope imo, not blowing off the PWA.

Originally Posted by Rogue24

If they did a good job at anything or helped answer questions or concerns you can admit that too Denny.

Originally Posted by Denny Crane

I fully support my Reps. I think they do a pretty decent job, especially Art. He is one smart dude and has critical thinking skills I can only dream about. It doesn't sound like he is running again and that will be a loss for all of us. I hope he continues in some form or fashion with the Union.

I'm not going to go into the other topics of conversation I had with them or anyone else at the PUB on a public forum. I believe it would be a violation of privacy and trust.

Denny

Originally Posted by Bucking Bar

Rogue24,

Well stated.

You are a lot better informed than most. This MEC does provide better transparency and I am pleased. Many who don't follow events as closely, especially outside major events, may be slower to appreciate the good efforts being made.

Originally Posted by Rogue24

Who cares where it came from, its about improving the DALPA PWA, not any former anything!

Originally Posted by Scoop

Speaking of being overstaffed in WB Jets I have seen numerous company communications referring to WBs going into MOD, thus requiring less Pilots to man the fleet.

I do not recall ever seeing a communication saying something along the lines of ... "As the _____ finishes its MOD we will be increasing (really returning) flying thus requiring an AE to staff the _____ fleet."

Whats the deal? Are the MOD lines like the fabled Hotel California, aircraft can check out....... but they can never leave?

Scoop

Originally Posted by Rogue24

Food for thought:

On the surface that sounds like an amazing idea, but think of this.....

We have been overstaffed the entire time we have been in the three year measurement period since AZ jointed the NAJV, correct?

I believe the answer to that question/statement would be better served by asking: Are we overstaffed in the widebody positions if Delta was meeting it's contractual TAJV percentage? How many widebody positions would that add? The MEC put out something last March, I believe if I remember correctly, said we would need to do something like 8/9 daily roundtrip MSP-AMS on the A330 to make up the difference. I suspect it's even more now. As they said in the update, it's cumulative, not a snapshot.

That's quite a few positions in each seat. Public math but I think my calculations are about right. Say each MSP-AMS round trip is worth 18 hours, times 9 daily equals 162 hours a day times 31 days equals 5022 hours a month. I'll round down to 5000 hours because not every month is 31 days. Divide 5000/75 hours gives you 66.6 more Captains and 66.6 more FO's. That would either cause a lot of movement or most certainly reduce or eliminate overstaffing...

We have been very overstaffed on many WB jets; company decision. The 330, 744, and 777 have been over staffed to the point of MD's. The ER has just seen over 100 FO seats removed because they are so far over staffed from the operational formula. I am sure we all agree on this.

See above, it would put a dent in it. That would be the figures based on last March. I suspect, but don't know, that it would be higher now.

I would venture to bet, that if you used a staffing formula for your non-complinace you would realize that we would have been well above the extra staffing needed to staff the 7 333's from DTW to AMS that it would take to be in compliance.

Now I know you are going to retort that it has to be for staffing on jets that fly in the JV, but this summer all of them are. We have 777's to AMS, and 330's all over the place. I even think there is a 744 doing Euro service this summer.

Point is that we have probably been adequately staffed for your suggestion the last few years given the level of over staffing that we have experienced. If that was your financial quid, then the company already paid, eh?

Originally Posted by Carl Spackler

When you talk about calculations, and determining a monetary penalty for this particular contract non-compliance, this is where we fail in an epic manner. We fail because we are (yet again) saying we Delta pilots are A-OK with trading jobs for money.

I agree with monetary damages for every contract violation EXCEPT scope. Scope cannot be traded for money because scope is the only way we have relevance. Jobs are our treasure and the only reason we are paid for a career is if our scope allows us those jobs. We might get a short term pay bump from being paid for the scope sale-du-juor, but long term we lose everything. EVERYTHING.

Carl

Originally Posted by Rogue24

Nor should you. Point is they were open honest and candid with you. That should be the take-away on here. Its a plus and you had a good experience.

Apparently Art is not running again. That is what he told me when I was in the lounge on the way to Asia earlier this week.