If a new category(fleet+base) such as SEA 717 is opened, it would be open to anyone under a freeze for the initial AE.

Purple, so you would rather risk 5 or 6 years of no wage growth in order to have a chance at a big gain in the future? One that management would have no incentive to give since you aren't offering anything? Just trying to understand.

Walking in the door with this attitude, we shouldn't have to wait long at all for a lackluster agreement.

Historic ass whoopin! I loved it.

I'm not purple, and I don't agree with him much of the time, but I think you're presenting a false choice. We do have something to offer under normal circumstances, even more so when the company is doing well, and especially so when the company is selling "the airline with the best labor relations" to Wall Street. They have to be able to deliver on that last.

Somewhere in the spectrum between "what are you willing to give up for that", and "however long it takes to get everything I want" is where most pilots live. If you're not willing to show any patience, in order to ensure uninterrupted wage growth, then you're going to either settle for mediocre wage growth, or even worse, buy the wage growth with productivity concessions.

Satch...in short, yes. I'll risk an indefinite period of no wage growth. It's absolutely essential to let the company know we're not going to accept a bad deal just to get it done.

Furthermore, let's see MD go on record with the same message. "We will take as long as necessary to attain a contract befitting Delta's record profits--as witnessed by massive increases in every meaningful measurement--including executive compensation [insert stat here].

Let's get it on the record now, and launch an offensive. I'm tired of the company taking the initiative and DALPA always reacting/caught a step behind.

I guess I disagree with the premise that we "aren't offering anything." First, we should note that most guys on the property contributed very heavily when times were bad. That loan is due. There is no reason to give more now.

What we have to "offer" is labor peace. RA relies heavily on the perception that Delta is above labor strife. It's a big part of his move to make Delta an "investment grade" organization. If picketing starts and things get messy, investors--already gunshy about airline stocks--will bolt.

Never would have expected that. One would think the 330 would open before the 777! That will make a bunch of SR ER guys happy...

You are not alone on this one Ferd. People are only enamored with profit sharing during years in which we are making profits. I much prefer the pay via other means, whether it's rates or a bump to the ADG or increased value of training days, etc. But that's just me.

I bet, we're ordering 777s.

That's my bet.

kudos to whoever was on here prior to the newsletter predicting a MSP 777 base...

http://cdn.gifbay.com/2013/12/tumble...lph-107834.gif

So the 717 could go to NYC, it could go west, but it won't do both.