Pledge? Is that a pledge pin? On your uniform? :D

I called my rep and asked about this specifically. He gave me the same answer that I was expecting when I sent you the PM last week.

Nothing nefarious is going on. It's a large event that requires a support structure to operate. The Delta MEC sponsors the charity (fund raising) golf tournament, and the pilot you are referring to has been tasked with organizing. He has also apparently done the programming to handle the incoming donations, and should be on site to handle the inevitable "glitches" that pop up.

Now you are free to disagree with the MEC's decision to put on a charitable golf event, but the proper channel to raise that concern is via your reps. I personally don't have a problem with it now that I've gotten the details - I've seen firsthand how much work is involved with organizing a large event like this, and don't find it unreasonable that we send support for an event that we are sponsoring. YMMV.

Um, no... wife's father died recently... they would not let me use/move vacation, even though there were a lot of complexities due to him dieing in a different country (basically took two weeks to straighten everything out). Good luck.

Also, I was moving from days with worse coverage to days with better coverage.

That is why Mike works full time to lower expectations. RA has given them marching orders to reduce our profit sharing. But the line pilots have spoken. 98% want to keep or increase their profit sharing.

Obviously the inside admin guys are not ready to give up on getting RA our concessions.

You're delusional. I know Mike and he is most definitely not taking "marching orders" from the company.

I'm almost laughing actually thinking about that - simply not true.

Damn. Lesson learned. In hindsight I should have:

1). Input an AE in for aircraft in my desired base, for every other base.

2). Get awarded said aircraft to whatever base.

3). Go through training on new aircraft inside my seat lock.

4). Transfer to new base on next AE.

5). Live happily ever after?

Yes, a dice roll, but seems to be working splendidly for a bunch of people.

No. It is trading in something that may be worth less than it is today for something that is worth more. It's not a raise, to be sure. It's just changing the variable part of our pay.

Look at it this way. Suppose our reps are able to negotiate for us a 20% increase in pay rates on Day One (just an example), plus a bunch of other good stuff. Suppose further that Delta wants to reduce profit sharing overall, and offers us another 5% on top of the 20% in fixed pay rates in return for an equivalent amount of profit sharing reduction (like the additional 2% that we received in 2013 on top of the 6.5%).

Are you saying that we should say no to such an offer? Just asking.

I tend to agree, even thinking that we should try to increase it. But as others have pointed out, there is a risk.

Agreed.

Agreed. The thing is that the alternative is still worse for most of us.

I wondered the same thing. An ATLM88B in the 12000s also got an ATL73NB.... I was trying to figure out the displacement angle, but the award specifically states no displacements....

Ahhhh....!

Does the fact that these two guys have likely not finished (perhaps not even started?) training play into it?

I would do this:

I would say to the company...

Our union leadership has clearly stated and clearly defined the objectives of this round of contract negotiations. Two of those stated (and published) goals are No reduction in profit sharing and an Increase in W-2's.

I would show that the survey results clearly show this what the pilots want. They won't settle for less.

I would let the company know that under the MEC leadership the union has had "contract roadshows" and warned members to have reserve cash on hand in case a strike vote is required. Family members have been briefed and union members are prepared to do what is required for a "historic" contract.

I would remind the company of the sacrifices the pilots have made in order to contribute to the company's success.

I would remind the company the the union has embraced "constructive engagement", however, that is a two-way street and perhaps it might be time to change the union's methods of negotiation.

I would then, quietly, under my breath, say "Look, almost half the pilots wanted to vote ALPA off the property a while ago. If you don't throw us some bones then ALAP WILL be voted off property. And you probably won't like the new union as much as you like us."

Of course NONE of above is happening...

But I can dream right?

Say hello to C2015:

Split duty periods
Pay banding
Longer training freezes
Increased sick leave scrutiny
Reduction in profit sharing
More large RJs
Increased Reserve utilization
Increase in Line Holder utilization
and.....

wait for it....

4/3/3/3 percent pay increases.

Since you know him so well go ahead and list 10 major improvements Mike sees in C2015. And make his position public on reducing profit sharing.

IMO you will do nothing of the sort. You will talk in circles and stand for nothing. Mike works behind our backs. He and his inside admin friends think they know better and line pilots just need to be patted on the head.


"Taking risk off the table" will be one of many cram down cost neutral
talking points for the C2015 sell job.

"Taking risk off the table" equals cost neutral.