Too bad Winston Wolf wasn't on the NC.

Me:"I don't want to hear about no self funding. All I want to hear from your @ss is 'you ain't got no problem line-guy, I'm on the motherf@$&r, go back in there and chill them pilots out and wait for the cavalry, which will be there directly'"
DALPA-"You ain't got no problems line guy. Go back there and chill those pilots out, and wait for the MEC, which will be there directly"
Me -"you sendin the MEC?!!"
DALPA- "Feel better, Mf'er?"
Me " Sh!# DALPA, that's all you had to say"

Two years of retro pay right before retirement is a nice way to plus up the savings. Anyone under 63 may find their patience and self discipline worth the wait.

Nice. I still love that movie. Wonder what they said to the MEC to make them change their battle plan? Any guesses?

1. Richard - You want a piece of me MFers? I still have the bodies of the NWA MEC in the back of my Prius!!
2. Ed - I will not lose any more sleep over pilot pay! We took your retirement once and we can do it again.
3.

Two years of the same $$$ plus the compound interest would be more beneficial, according to math.

Your investment strategy may be different.

Tell that to the guys that hit the retirement point prior to a deal and get nothing...

Also politely add that he/she had an extra 5 years in that seat while you were stagnated. So it would be a nice gesture not to RUSH and vote for, when we can do better.

TEN

This is a fair point.

But a better, or at least as good a question, is how many carriers have actually benefited by turning down section 6 contracts negotiated in good faith?

One? In twenty years? Arguably zero?

Dunno. I think it all has to do with perspective. Sure you could agree with the above statement...but you can also add that in all but very few aspects DAL pay rates exceed those of all passenger carriers.

For now.

Looking at straight pay rates, our 320 pilots are behind American, United, and Southwest (their 737 rates). United has a very similar profit sharing plan. I have to agree with Carl that we are hardly leading the industry in anything contractual. In my opinion our profit sharing and sick leave are the only things we have that our industry leading and the company wants to cut both of those benefits. Our 737 pilots still have a lower rate than the Southwest pilots.

Negative. Not anything. I will vote for any gain I believe can't be made up for if we head back to the table.

If you believe the rumored 9-6-4-4 over 3 years can be beat, I invite you to show the math(also accounting for time value of money) on how we can head back to the table and within 3 years get the gains you're looking for plus make up for extra pay not earned due to being at the table. No rhetoric. Just the math.

The question isn't just pay rates though is it? I guess my points all above still apply. Would you choose to adopt someone else's contract as it is if you could right now? I sure wouldn't.

Its not perfect, but saying that the grass is really greener is a bit disingenuous of all of us. I'm as guilty as doing it as any other gear swinger. But we have done well by constantly negotiating rather than fighting one huge battle for a decade (AA for example).