It's a good thing you're not the MEC Chairman, because I'd doubt the MEC Chairman's sanity for writing something so stupid, and out of order. Donatelli is rather well versed with strike preparations, and I think he probably has a much better sense of the pilot group than you do, partly because his communication style isn't "transmit-only". I'm pretty sure he knows when to pull certain levers. You don't stand up the group for no reason, and you don't stand them up prematurely, with nothing to do. When you do act, it's because management is legitimately stonewalling us, and pilot sentiment supports it, demands it really. At that point, the nervous Nellies are motivated to join, and the group moves in lockstep.

Your message already presupposes a failure to negotiate. I don't think we're going to get what we need early, or without a fight, but I think our leverage goes well beyond a strike. There is a lot of value in Delta being able to continue to sell the image of good labor relations. Your nonsensical approach would shatter that possibility, drop the value of an uninterrupted smooth operation to zero, and leave us both in defensive positions, for the long-term. It's the equivalent of going to marital counseling with your divorce lawyer.

I guess I wouldn't mind your premature ejaculation on this topic so much if you didn't take the gratuitous swipe of "no matter what", that same stupid label you used before to paint all South pilots as unwilling to strike. At any rate, when it comes to formulating a strategy for using the strike, I'll trust Donatelli to send the right letter at the right time.

 

Now that is funny!

A very good thing this guy is not the MEC Chairman. Occasionally we get a guy like this that writes a slick campaign flyer and finds himself elected as a rep. They quickly self destruct and marginalize themselves on the MEC. See Sam Derosa. Or they grow up real fast and transform themselves into a hard working and responsible reps, see Brian Craig.

The real curious aspect of these types is that they do not have a clue as to how far off the margin they are. Thankfully we have a great majority that sees things quite a bit differently. Spackler is a one way emotional hot air vent valve. Anyone with eyes can see that. Yet, he cant. Funny really.

 

Maybe I'm a marginal guy, but I agreed with just about everything Sam Derosa wrote, even with the benefit of hindsight.

 

Purple, you must be significantly younger than me if you can wait that long. I've only got 10-12 years left in this biz and am still a zip code seniority number. I cant' afford to waste 5 or 6 of those years parked in NMB limbo. While I agree with some of you in principle, we shouldn't be giving any concessions, I just don't see how under current law we can accomplish that.

Carl, your first two points were calm and reasoned. Then you had to get personal and accusatory. Your constant bombast and denigrating tone really turns some of us off. Without being an Equus africanus asinius, please explain how AMRs negotiations were different from our upcoming negotiations. Explain the remedy that NMB would provide us if management doesn't budge. Also explain why if we are the ones not budging, how would the NMB provide us with said remedy? NewKnow, I'd like you to answer this too, you seem to be able to have an intelligent debate.

And before anyone accuses me of being an ALPA stooge, I've not no affiliation with the union other than poking my rep every once in a while. I've been to a few meetings and even spent the whole first day of the Kingsley trail there because I was on a 717 vacation. I just fly airplanes, cut hay, and hunt deer and turkey. I can see APC hasn't changed while I've been gone. Is it CFB season yet? Can we get some cheerleader pics, please? Roll Tide!

 

I wasn't trying to be funny, just pointing out how ridiculous it would be to follow Carl's prescription in July of 2014.

There is some equally preposterous nonsense coming from the "no leverage" camp.

 

I'm with you scambo. I know Sam and agree with a lot of what he says. He's a pretty good guy from my limited experience.

 

I img we will buy the dip.

But the European and Asia revenue declines are coming at a bad time for our Board (speculation).

 

I didn't see anyone slamming Sam for his opinions. I did read that Sam found himself unable to contribute because he marginalized himself among the other reps. (One man's opinion.) I've seen quite a few one-term reps who get elected with a great campaign and then become so integrated with that identity that they cannot compromise with the majority.

My opinion is that a great rep can't be an island. If you want to contribute, then move the majority towards your viewpoint with diplomacy. Use small victories. Incrementalism, if you will. That serves your constituency. Planting your flag on one issue/viewpoint/hill results in irrelevance and wastes your election. View the bodies of all the one term reps who served and left dejected and bitter. (That last bit was not about Sam, but at a couple of other buddies/acquaintances who left the MEC bloody with self-inflicted wounds.)

 

I think the thought opening the cowling on the 90 is what upsets them.

 

The reason, or my guess, is maybe the flying they want out of atl and DTW doesn't leave a lot of airplanes for two other hubs.