Spot on Bar.

Our biggest threat going forward is Delta not needing Delta pilots to perform Delta flying...
How are we going to mitigate that threat? It starts by taking an honest assessment of where we are.

Case in point the AFKLM/AZ JV. It is in many ways for scope, the equivalent of the crown jewels in the PWA. Overall it is a decent agreement, but in MOU14 we lost the downside protection (from March 31 2011 to April 1st 2014) that was so eagerly sought in LOA12.
Contractually we are in no-mans-land right now when it comes to the JV and developments in Europe and at AFKLM/AZ make it appear that we might get in compliance not by us growing, but by them shrinking in the years ahead.

The brilliance of the original AF JV was the requirement to fix any inequities in growth annually, not after a three year wait.
What we got now is shared ups and downs and a three year wait before we have any contractual ability to require the company to match flying on the other side.

How many pilots will be on the seniority list in 2014?
What will your seniority be in 2014 due to effects of attrition, hiring or a merger?

I bet most pilots are done waiting...
At this point in many pilots careers, deferred scope/compensation/benefits just won't cut it anymore. We are done waiting for the _____ when everything will be better. Worst of all by the time we catch up, the game has changed, the players have changed and we start all over again.

We have to break the cycle.

• A paycheck for all that well exceeds the current pay of our peers at the unnamed discount carrier, not in the future or after a few years but at signing.
• New Delta jets on the ramp growing the fleet, not just replacing jets.
• Total freeze on any codeshare JV or DCI growth until Delta hires for growth, not just attrition.
• A stable workplace that values pilots by mitigates the effects of moving bases with financial incentives for those who move and travel incentives for those forced to commute.
• Retirement benefits that enable pilots to retire when they wish by providing a smooth transition to post retirement plans.
• Healthcare plan pilot contributions frozen or matched in pay increases to keep net cost flat.

Take care of that and I''ll do backflips for constructive engagement all day long...

Oh and about unity – it's just not something one can impose.

• It has to come from within.
• It is built on trust.
• Its based on a shared and common goal.

These are the things that need to be articulated, negotiated and delivered.

Cheers
George

 

DELTA Cancels Atlanta – Shanghai Pu Dong from Jan 2012

Cheers
George

 

Yep, knew that was coming. There has been talk of it.

China is getting ready to feel the pain too.

 

In related news, ALPA issued a "Call for Action" to encourage lawmakers to legalize Opium.Not if we can get that law passed.

Really, do we offer a competitive product between world financial centers? The answer to that question as well as competing traffic flows from partners AF/KLM/Korean probably hold the keys as to why this just did not work out for us.

 

Excellent post George. although repetitive let me revisit what "unity" is. Unity is structural. Unity is one. Unity is exclusive. Unity is all Delta flying being performed by pilots with Delta seniority numbers represented by the recognized Bargaining Agent for Delta pilots. Unity is when the appointed person speaks on behalf of ALL Delta pilot labor.

Unity is not a "coalition" or a special group. Unity is not rah rah lets all join hands and sing kumbyah nonsense. Unity is not a flow through, or flow down, or something that hinges on a promise made by an airline manager.

Unity is an absolute, irrecoverable, inflexible, legally binding obligation to have Delta pilots perform Delta flying, or else shut the place down. Unity means we are on the same team, with the same interests in the success of this endeavor.

 

Amen

Now here's a religion I can endorse

Cheers
George

 

You heard about the dyslexic agnostic, right?

Dog was his co-pilot...

Since I'm a sailor at heart, and I have several dogs who love to go out on the boat, I say Dog is my Co-Pirate!

http://www.zazzle.com/dog_is_my_co_p...73236695282674

 

It's ok. At this point, with a busted quarterback, I'm just hoping to make the playoffs, where maybe a record setting blizzard in Green Bay, Wisconsin could possibly take down the Packers passing game and clear the way for the Bears. Yes, I know. It's a reach.



That is the sentiment I'm seeing out on the line. Especially on the DC9, the guys I fly with think the WOW moment will never happen.

Personally, I think management is terrified of having a nightmare training scenario (lots of unfrozen pilots being displaced over and over again), and part of their decision-making process is focused on avoiding that. I think when they figure out their crystal ball, the WOW will come.

And because the number of forecast training events from the November AE came in under what they were thinking they would be, I want to be the first to predict that the next bid will be the mother of all AE's.

Or, will it be the one after that?

 

Tim,

I was just trying to change the subject.

 

Don't worry newK. He was responding to my post.