I'm not talking about what the contract allows acl, I'm talking about the choices that our management make. Under our contract, they could CHOOSE us first and minimize DCI, and have the maximum allowable imbalances in the JV's tilted in our favor. But they don't. Instead, our management CHOOSES us only when there are no other options left open to them. They even choose higher priced options first (Air France). That's the sad realization. It's not about what we allow. It's about why our management chooses others first, and their own top shelf pilot group last.

Carl

 

There is no such thing as commutable trips in NYC anymore, unless you are in the upper 5% and it's declining steadily....

 

Carl,

A lot has to do with shifting costs off property. Our management is focused on reducing our debt which means not buying things, like airplanes. Air France has about 1/3 of our debt load and has their aircraft acquisitions subsidized. They have 76 wide body jets on order.

On the DCI side, SkyWest is the largest Bombardier customer on the planet and they get significant (was about 25%) off the lowest prices paid by competitors for parts and support. Then you got some operators like Republic and Trans States who are willing to make silly deals just to keep the growth going. Trans States (GoJets parent) uses alter ego creations to side step scope and destroy longevity, so it resets pilot costs every so often. Delta can't compete on those terms.

As Delta shrinks it has fewer operations to allocate costs to. Our metrics as measured by seat miles will increase in cost. Hence the law that "you can not shrink to profitability."

I agree with management's work to reduce debt. I understand they can maintain and grow their network without us. The answer I have proposed is that "Delta" pilots perform this flying, even if the operator is not "Delta Air Lines."

You now understand why I equate unity to power at the bargaining table. Management can make this place work without us. We need better, more effective, scope to turn this around.

I like the JV language, but the 36 month compliance window was, and is, too large.

 

It is all about the Company shifting the expense for NYC hotels to junior pilots and realigning hubs to increase per seat revenues from Memphis by constraining capacity and forcing it through larger hubs. Delta is keeping the Memphis flight attendant base.

IMHO a "we will buy your house" type relocation package like any other business has would solve arbitrary base realignments. My very good friend got $15,000 to move his kids' "free" cat to China (animal has to go through quarantine), his move package total had to be near $150,000 by the time you figure their purchase, fixing and re-marketing his home.

Anyone seen Anderson's relocation package? We need to slide that across the table during the opener.

 

Been looking at it for two years. I am at the point on the list where I could get commutable trips.

 

Carl,
I know I do not need to tell you this, but money is the driver, not paying us to be nice. DCI gets debt off the balance sheet, and allows lower rates, debt service etc on the existing debt. It is now all about money.

 

He did not initially sell his house in MN, just bought one down here and then sold his a year or so later. (As I recall)

I agree with what you are saying. My wife was going to have her job moved to Houston, and the relocation package was eye watering. They bought the house from us at loan value, appraised value, or market value, which was ever more, paid for the move, commission, corporate housing while we built a new house, and all of the commissions with the new house. Paid for school for the kids for whatever portion of our tuition we could not get back, and were willing to provide me with paid tickets to work for two years. We were all over it, but they decided not to move her department.

Just to note, this is a small company, not a fortune 500 one. Privately held in the US, and makes below 20 million a year in profit.

 

I'm starting to think we should call the companies bluff and make them cost all of this out.

Have the union go to JG or higher and say, "we agree that commuting should be outlawed for the good of the company. We recommend everyone live within 100 miles of the base you're flying out of. If you (pilot) don't like it:

- retire
- resign
- take the company paid move"

I'll bet the cost of hiring, training, and moving would be eye watering. Then you'll see just how much the company REALLY believes commuting is a choice.

 

Novel, but most could not see their houses if they wanted to. Many have spouses with careers in a city they live in, and cannot afford the loss of pay. Many have spouses that are major caregivers to their grandchildren so their daughters/sons can work.

There are a few that commute because they want to live in X, but most do it to keep a marriage together, and can afford to live with paycuts. Forcing pilot to get rid of that second income may wake a few of them up though.

 

That point is also where yes you get commutable trips, but the credit of those trips is usually crap.

Seems like you can either take the money or commutable trips but I would not count on both. Plenty of disgruntled 73N drivers up here. I agree with the others...tread lightly.