MoonShot

Yesterday was a complete mess trying to get to NYC, but we ended up in the New York area right about the time all the fireworks were going off. From PHL to LGA, non stop firework displays. I would estimate in the thousands! Probably the coolest thing I've seen from the air. Made a long day tolerable. Anyone else get to see the show?

1234

While I wasn't at Delta then, that sounds like a lot of spin from the other direction. Made the chicken littles millionaires? I would ask how so?

1234

I am completely neutral right now on the ALPA/DPA issue and frankly have not read or heard anything from DPA that makes me think they are going to be different other than the fact they only represent Delta pilots.

What I see on here are both sides arguing about which side sucks, not which side is better. This is an emotional topic because it greatly affects each of us that are pilots for Delta. I find it funny/sad that there are those on here lamenting about the contract opener and that it is already going to be bad when the union hasn't even put one together. The survey isn't out yet and there are those complaining about that. My guess is that if the union put it out 3 months ago, and there was a drastic change in the market/economy, these same individuals would complain that the survey was out to early and ALPA is so stupid. Let's let the committees/LEC/MEC work and put out the survey closer to the contract opener in order to get more timely info. I can guarantee that the company is loving the idea of us changing unions right before a section 6. That will in-fact ensure that there is no change in labor costs to the company for the foreseeable future (as someone complained about ALPA because the company says this).

johnso29

FTB,

I agree with you. But the pure thought soured my morning.

shiznit

This individual truly understands the process. Well stated.

Smokey23

You're welcome, MC. The company profit sharing & 401k match contributions do not appear in my W2 numbers. Both are pre-tax plans and profit sharing was 5.7% last year (it hasn't been 10% for a long time), while the company 401k match is 9.3%. Of course what is also not reflected in my W2 is the first 9.3% I had to contribute to my 401k to get the company's matching contribution. You may want to deduct that from my W2 to make a more valid comparison of retirement benefits.

Check Essential

The pilot group gave major concessions in that contract. It was during the disaster of Ron Allen. Guys were on furlough. We were desperately looking for ways to get them back. The MEC obliged. There was an "early out" retirement program included in the deal. It wasn't exactly made clear to the rank and file at the time but it turned out to be worth millions of dollars to those who took it. Problem was, it was not open to all, only the first 500 in seniority order who volunteered to "take one for the team".
Guess who volunteered?
Let's just say that immediately after that contract was ratified we needed to elect an entirely new MEC administration, negotiating committee, R&I committee, etc. etc.

Read the Ryan Report. It chronicles DALPA's darkest hour.

Check Essential

The report is 34 pages. Here's the first one:

April 8, 1998

Background
In December of 1996, the MEC passed a resolution forming a Negotiations Review Committee. The MEC’s direction to the Committee was clear—they wanted a comprehensive, full-disclosure report of the most recent Delta Pilot Contract Negotiations concluded in May of 1996. MEC Chairman (redacted) appointed a three pilot committee. Acting as a confirmed member of the Negotiations Review Committee, I was thereby empowered by the MEC to perform this review. Following 9 months of effort, the Committee Chairman issued a verbal report during the October 1997 MEC meeting which, I believe, fell short of fulfilling the Committee’s obligation to the MEC, and ultimately, the Delta Pilots. After presenting the report the Committee resigned.

In this report, information and analysis is tied together through a historical review. My research included extensive written documentation and 128 interviews throughout all levels of the ALPA structure, from National officers to Line Pilots. Conclusions derive from the preponderance of circumstantial evidence and testimony. Hopefully, individual readers will weigh the information and develop their own perspective. I urge special attention to the series of recommendations at the end of the report.

Many interviewees were extremely candid and deserve our thanks for their willingness to selflessly give their time. In this report, I upheld the Committee’s promise to hold confidential sources of information. Perhaps at a later date, a fully supported investigation will interview participants under oath. I believe we can best move forward as a Union by honestly confronting our past, learning the lessons, and making changes where necessary.



Executive Summary
The Delta Pilots concluded the 1996 Negotiations arguably possessing the most favorable negotiating leverage presented any Pilot group post-Deregulation. Five consecutive quarters of record corporate profits, Management raises, upbeat analyst’s projections, a Democrat in the White House and an Atlanta Summer Olympics all pointed toward a truly progressive Agreement. Many industry observers expected the Delta Contract to lead the Piloting profession toward substantial gains. In the aftermath, the Amended Contract is clearly the most concessionary witnessed on the Delta property–this report addresses why.

Overwhelming circumstantial evidence and testimony indicates that the Delta Pilots were ill-served by specific individuals, in positions to control the negotiating process, for philosophical and personal financial reason. The MEC Chairman, Negotiating Committee Chairman, Retirement & Insurance Chairman and a senior Negotiating Committee Member had a significant Conflict of Interest, which they substantially withheld from the MEC and Pilot Group for the duration of the Negotiations. Management joined the Pilot Negotiator’s in severely limiting public understanding and discussion of the Negotiation’s dominant focus.

The MEC Chairman was allowed to define standard negotiating procedures and used distinctive methodologies to conceal concessions and personal gains. Standard analysis was denied to the MEC and staff reports were directed toward supporting concessionary bargaining. Neither the Pilots nor the MEC was provided accurate data showing the Amendment’s cost in jobs, working conditions and wages.

The structure, magnitude and negotiability of retirement provisions associated with the Pre-72 Minimum Benefit were misrepresented and withheld from the MEC. The Amended Contract substantially enhanced the retirement benefits of a few Pilots, who subsequently retired, at enormous cost to those who remained. Protection of key individual’s retirement benefits underlies virtually all aspects of the 1996 Negotiations.

The MEC failed to exercise its responsibility to ensure a balanced and equitable Contract. While the corporation was able to achieve specific concessions with rapid implementation, promised contractual improvements went largely unrealized. The majority of the contract language dealing with pilot issues was unwritten at the time of ratification. After contract ratification and during the crafting of the final language, disagreements and dissatisfaction with the final product reflected the MEC’s shallow understanding of what had been negotiated, while bringing into question the accuracy of details provided to the MEC and the pilot group by the negotiators and MEC officers.

The pilot group as a whole failed in their responsibility to make an informed ratification decision and to hold their elected representatives accountable. Early and repeated alarms from members who questioned the direction of Negotiations went unheeded. Members who persisted in questioning the MEC Leadership and Negotiators at Local Council meetings were rebuffed by their Leadership and ignored by their fellow council members. The lack of contractual language prior to ratification gave little cause for concern. Only during the implementation stage did the rank and file members recognize the impact of what they had ratified.

The report concludes with a series of Findings and Recommendations.


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In fairness, this report was highly controversial. There are those who disagreed.
There is also at least 2 "rebuttals" to Ryan that defend the DALPA administration.

acl65pilot

Every category has em.

acl65pilot

Only on apple machines. I got the error on Journey, and Mercury, but when looking at it on Firefox or IE8 on a PC it worked fine