Ya, all in all our ramp guys do a good job with the exception of DTW and MSP. I commute through there all the time and we're constantly having to wait for marshallers. There's always room for improvement system wide and I'm sure we could save a whole ton of money just by having rampers in position upon arrival.

Just to add a question... why is it that MSP and DTW are so slow? I understand they're IAM, but how does that make them slow? Do they think by moving like molasses that the company will be tricked into hiring more rampers thus creating more jobs? Are they trying to peave Delta management off? Do they really think by slowing down the operation that management will "see the light" and give them whatever they want? I just don't get it. Does anybody understand this? It's annoying watching a ramper cause us to lose so much money in fuel when we bust our butts to save fuel! I guess it's just something we have to deal with.

 

Do you think he lied?

 

Buzz,

You are right - I didn't mean that LAX was especially bad, but that was about the third or fourth time that I had that happen in my last 5 days of flying.

Scoop

 

You know the answer to that.

 

I don't think the case hinges on his testimony. I've not read his transcript, but the anecdotal comments related to the JFK move don't seem to be crucial to the definition of the agreement. That is not to say he will not be blamed to in a political effort to deflect criticism.

There is certainly enough in the form of public comments, e-mails and testimony about oral agreements to revise the contract, as well as the fact millions were paid without objection, to indicate the actions of the parties.

Folks like BK (former LEC 44 rep) really need to be forwarded a copy of these documents in the hope they will understand outsourcing DOES NOT benefit Delta Airlines and DOES NOT benefit Delta pilots. Even if the intent to cross subsidize Delta pilots' contract by outsourcing came from the best of intentions, in practice it fails horrendously. Just objectively looking at the history and the facts leads directly to the conclusion that Leo, Fred and Michelle's outsourcing plan isn't in the long term best interest of Delta, or its' pilots.

 

Was he a union guy?

 

No. He was a McKinsey consultant, then our former Chief Operating Officer, the guy responsible for negotiating and implementing the outsourcing agreements that Bar rails against. Yet Bar adored him....

He did put together a really neat "velvet rope" tour where he could gather with all his flight attendant friends, though. Besides the RJ's it's one of the only things that you can point to that he actually accomplished.

 

Slow, correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't he really big in to getting the 90's as well?

 

Change is subject - How is Virgin Doing?



Hey, who is that guy with Sir Richard? Looks familiar.

Scoop

 

No. That decision was made when he was graduating from High School (1989).

The MD-90's were a Ron Allen decision and they were first delivered in 1995, well prior to any involvement by the former Boston consultant. He did advise Fred Reid and Leo Mullin, who ultimately hired him as Chief Network and Planning Officer in 2002, making him responsible for the deployment of the large RJ expansion we saw post 9-11.