Will the Honorable Gentleman accept an Amendment?

"Provide job security, longevity, quality of life and upgrade potential for Delta pilots by requiring all flights bearing Delta code be operated by Delta Air Lines Pilots on the Delta Air Lines Seniority List"

 

Having been at at DCI carrier for 10 years, I can attest that DCI carriers have no interest in being part of the DAL team. Many see DAL as a hinderance to their QOL and growth. (short sided on their part ) so why consider them in any equation IMHO. Also, ALPA can not represent pilots at a major and be sure the interests of the regional guys are being addressed as well. This conflict is not good in the long term. Capital wasted on this is not worth it in the long term.

 

Can't believe that's true for bottom 75%.

 

Hi Carl and bar, long time fan.

Bar to answer your earlier question I simply don't think alpa had this future envisioned when they signed off on the outsourcing. I think they, as well as the membership were just trying to preserve what little they had left. I don't think alpa envisioned the regionals growing to this size and amount of power. So much power in numbers, that in fact, the only reason moak is the president is to appease one of only two majors left at alpa. (We're the piggy bank). From my own personal experience at the alpa board of director meetings there were always mainline guys grumbling "the regionals are taking over!". And rightly so, the regionals grew and as a result the political structure had to change to keep them grouped together and retain a high level of vp's for the majors so that they could always overpower the regionals in the voting process.

But....you can only do that for so long. With three or four majors it was easy...now with two it is very difficult. One election, perhaps the next one, and we could see a regional mec chair as alpa president.

Now that Im thinking of it, once they realize their power and band together they'll give US the boot! They would lose the money we bring to the table but would gain complete control. But as I've stated before in my previous post there's nothing inherently wrong with that. The regionals need representation and someone to represent them. There is a lot of pilot pushing at that level of flying that many of us are not aware of. Simply put, right now we get to have the alpa president position because they are too afraid of losing the money. That wont last forever.

Back to delta pilots...the average age of our group is 53. It makes sense that many of our mid to higher seniority pilots would want instant satisfaction of pay rates during their last few years of employment. I completely understand that. In fact, although I don't always agree with what Carl says, take a look at this picture. Here's a guy who should care less about scope. At his seniority level he would most likely be looking for a pay increase before jumping ship and shouldn't be the slightest bit concerned about the profession or perhaps helping to build something new to sustain our profession for another 30 years. Unlike the previous quarter century of pilots who pulled the ladder up, Carl, through a lifetime of voting, striking and observation, GETS IT. It's about US, not about ME.

I support better retiree medical benefits for those retiring. Would that help me? Perhaps a few guys would jump ship a little sooner but perhaps not. I think...what if I was promised something for my entire career, only to have it yanked from beneath my feet?

So again I rant a little to long when I should be walking the dogs or studying for CQ. Here is a question for discussion and rhetorical sake....are WE the rouges for having NOT joined CAPA yet? Most of our major airline brothers are waiting on US.

 

At least this will eliminate the one pilot/one dog in cockpit threat.

 

Granted I only spent 2 years at a DCI carrier, but most people I flew with had the opposite view. We wanted mainline to have scope so we could eventually move on. My career goals (I assume this applies to most people) was not to work at ASA, Comair, Compass, Mesaba, Republic, Skywest, etc. for life.

 

With the proliferation of the regionals there is getting to be a lot more lifers now. Most guys who are hitting 40 or older would rather stay put with their seniority and fly an airbus or 737 or large rj for that matter. The balance of power is slowly tipping IMHO. Not saying there aren't guys trying to get out but the mindset of the average regional pilot is much different today than it was even 10 years ago.

 

Bar, are you sure you're allowed to just bring a motion out of the blue? I thought there was some sort of process... like with Compass.

 

Couple days ago I said if I was a negotiator I wouldn't even want to publish an "opener".
They are a waste of time at best and counterproductive at worst. Laying out detailed positions in public before the talks even begin would be foolish.
Looks like ALPA felt the same way. Thankfully.


The whole kabuki dance of the "openers" is now behind us.

Now we can get down to business. Those of us on this forum are a bunch of airline junkies who crave information. But we're also smart enough to know that this negotiation will be conducted in closed rooms. Not in public. That is as it should be and as it must be.

 

Good improvement. So amended.This is just cathartic mental masturbation.