These are great questions, let me take a shot.

When we merged it was a great win(for some) to have the 747 pay and 330 pay put where they were, it helped(some) when merging the lists. I find it hilarious(and sad) that its now a complaint that they are not where they should actually be.

We cut off our nose to spite our face on that one.

This is sad. It's 2.25% on July 1, 2015. July 1, 2015 is 6 months prior to the PWA's amendable date. April 1, 2015 is when we can exchange openers per Section 6, but that date has nothing to do with what triggers the dues increase to 2.25%. Again, 2.25% on July 1, 2015.

It's right there in what you and hitimefurl keep referencing. The "negotiations" currently under way by DALPA do not trigger a dues increase.

Carl

ALPA put a poison pill in our bridge agreement that terminates our ASA with Delta if we vote them out. I would expect that they will do something similar for you guys at one point.

Not to be snarky, but the attorney who represented US Airways, Northwest, and Continental during their recent seniority arbitrations (Katz I believe?) is also very well versed on the legal and arbitration systems. That experience hasn't really paid off very well for his clients, although I'm quite certain he has made out very well despite never actually being on the side with the greatest influence on the final list in those cases.

No, I am not comparing NewK to Katz, I hold NewK in great esteem. He is one of the few APC posters that is willing to have a discussion absent a great deal of the emotion that tends to bubble up here.

Thanks for making that clear. It's important to know that the DPA would exceed ALPA's at a later date than some have stated.

Do you have any idea why DPA's dues rate would be that much higher since DPA wouldn't be supporting RJ pilots or a National structure some have described as "bloated"?

If those expenses are gone, and DPA is doing the same mission, why is the dues rate that high? I've read a lot of comments here from DPA cheerleaders that promise DPA will be more fiscally responsible, won't have dues diverted to other pilot groups, and will be more transparent.

Shouldn't there be enough transparency now to explain how a more fiscally responsible union that doesn't spend dues on other groups would cost us MORE?

I don't see it the same way you do. We enter "Section 6" negotiations April 1, 2015.

Still didn't answer who decides what constitutes the vaguely worded negotiations in the DPA constitution. ALPA is literally at the table with the company this week, does that count? I really don't like the language.

Don't forget to mention that at the end of those clearly defined special circumstances, dues snap back down, then steadily decrease to 1%. Don't believe that is the case with ALPA. Not that the percentage of dues paid is the driving factor on either side.

I do. ALPA national will be keeping all dues dollars that Delta pilots have paid in to ALPA for both the Delta pilots Major Contingency Fund (MCF) and the dues dollars specifically budgeted for Delta pilots. One of the negatives about starting an independent union is ALPA keeping all your money. I'm quite confident that we'll be financially sound very quickly however for the reasons you've stated above.

Notwithstanding your "DPA cheerleaders" comment, please see above.

Again, please see above.

Carl

It doesn't matter how you "see it" shiznit. The written word is what matters. The written word says "6 months prior to the amendable date of our PWA." It says nothing about when we enter Section 6 negotiations. You made a mistake. It happens.

I've done so twice now. I can't help it if you refuse to read it...or understand it.

That's fine if you don't like the language. You can put forth a resolution to your block rep tightening up the language. I'll support you. ALPA being at the table this week has nothing to do with DPA being at the table. Most importantly, helping the company write a document that explains why we're giving away NRT slots is not one of the clearly defined special circumstances in the DPA constitution. So no worries shiznit.

Carl

This isn't spin Carl? You want to argue facts, but then you toss out your 'opinion' as if it were fact.

The fact is the company can do whatever they want with the NRT slots, including drawing them down to zero. Our leverage comes from the fact that they would like to maintain the codeshares they currently have in place. Your negotiators are attempting to capture more of the Pacific flying, which is currently a vulnerability.

Here's a question. How do you think the DPA would handle the NRT slot issue with mgmt? Would they have told Delta to pound sand? What reasonable gains can your organization provide me in this regard?

I'm still waiting for the master plan. Show me how DPA is going to improve my life and I may renew my card. So far I don't see it.

I'm curious why we're quibbling about 0.5% when no one seems to care about the FPL question. That's the one I want to know about.