done, just did it.

Please. That was more than offset by the major leapfrog we received from the Delta pilots and ties into why Moak wants our trip rig upgrades to wait till SOC.

That is exactly right!

Further more, DALPA has insisted that our grievances go through them and they will present them to Delta management. There is no interest for them to do so on this issue for the above reason. Hence, they support management on waiting till BP5, which is probably near or after SOC.

Can you explain what you are referring to?

It is becoming VERY political. I see big time grievances coming.

I think the whole trip rig issue is being blown out of proportion. Either way all pilots on the SLI now will be senior to any new hires. I personally could care less if NW hires now or the combined airline hires in six months - either way the guys will be junior to all of us. As far as NW guys getting upgrades right now - great! Let them upgrade and seat lock now in a positon that they want so they won't be bidding off again soon.

Scoop - looking for that silver lining.

Scoop,

Thank you for your post, however, your mec is of a completely different mindset. While 300 upgrades may not sound like a lot but when you take into account that the upgrades that we are talking about are widebody positions, narrow body captains and three hundred, or actually more, pilots on the list then it becomes more than just something to scoff at.

Regardless of what Bucking Bar says we have already lost close to 280 pilots since the beginning of 08 (110 in the last six months) and we will lose another 100-150 in 09. So, all you guys can deduct that from your new number, however we are running short and yes, mr. Bar, we are going to be well short by this summer. All we are asking for is the Dal mec to support us in asking for the implementation of the work rules that Dal enjoys and scoop is correct in that the more positions that us Nwa guys bid within our own airline will be less guys bidding your aircraft.

Honest question here so don't shoot me. How has DALPA prevented you from having the trip rigs? Doesn't the contract pretty much spell out when the rigs have to apply to you?

great question.

It has gone to the grievance level. If Moak and company shelve our grievances then we will have no avenue to fight it and have it implemented sooner than soc. On Jan, 17th, I suppose it may come to us just being one mec with Moak being the head of it. That is why you are hearing so much about the issue.

No. Trip rigs are a totally gray area unfortunately. As for the rest, the contract spells out that "Bid period 5" is when many of the joint contract improvements apply to NWA pilots. Problem is, nobody at NWA or DAL is even willing to speculate when Bid period 1 will be, much less BP5.

Carl