If DALPA asks for any more 70 + seat jets it more than likely be one of their last actions representing the Delta pilots. That would seal the deal to accelerate the DPA into office at Delta. Surely DALPA knows that?

 

Correct - if we give nothing it is still in the company's best interest to acquire these 717's for the right price, just like with MD-90's.

As Nu has stated previously, Delta's aircraft acquisition program is not the pilots' problem.

 

Just to be clear, DALPA isn't asking for the 76 seat limit to be raised, management is asking for it to "facilitate" the on-boarding of a large number of ~115 seaters at mainline.

Carl

 

I doubt it, DPA doesn't seem like a real alternative. It's like voting in APC, or some other website. There just isn't anything of substance behind DPA, it's just a website. I think DPA's time has come and gone. Most pilots who turned in cards were IMO more curious than anything else, or just wanted to send ALPA a message. If Delta pilots were serious about DPA there would have been a couple hundred at their ATL meeting, not a couple dozen, half of whom were organizers and DPA would have raised a couple hundred thousand dollars, not fifty.

Believe it or not the opinions you read on these forums aren't reflective of what the majority of pilots believe. If the deal is right, whatever it is, and most pilots vote in favor, DPA is done, end of story. If the deal isn't right, it's far easier to replace the negotiating committee and elect new reps than it is to replace an entire union. JMO.

 

My bad, I worded that poorly. If DALPA put forth a TA with any more scope relaxation etc.

In regards to your previous post. Any rep that would for any reason vote yes on a TA that would give up more scope should state as much publicly.

Of course that will never happen as they would more than likely be re-called.

 

 

Ugh that is not a good idea. Would be a no vote for me.

 

Actually, I think many of the opinions on this forum are reflective of our pilot group. I have never flown with or talked to a Delta pilot that wants to give away more of our flying. Not one. So if the MEC ratifies a TA that would for any reason give up more scope I think there is a big disconnect between DALPA and the will of the group.

You really think DPA is done? If the the trend line in regards to scope over the last decade doesn't change with this next contract DALPA will be gone imo, and rightfully so. Im not anti ALPA, I am however pro pilot group. If our union continues to give our jobs away, we are fools if keep riding the same horse.

 

I doubt any rep would discuss negotiating positions, whatever they are, during negotiations. That's like showing your cards. It's only when the TA comes out and all the cards are on the table that we'll be able to make a reasoned judgment.

It'll be interesting to see which reps stand behind the negotiators and which don't. I remember all the fuss about whether we should even have a negotiator election. Some reps went way out on a limb to keep these guys at the table.

 

It depends on the question. If you ask them do you want to give away Delta flying, of course the answer is no. If you ask them if they want to increase Delta pilot block hours, the answer is yes. If you ask them about JV protections, the answer varies. If you point out the lack of global JV protections, they almost all panic. I think there are lots of questions that need to be answered and they aren't just tied to one number.

Unlike you, I don't see DALPA as disconnected, I think they are very connected to the pilot group, probably more so than you or me. They are all Delta pilots and as a body they have significantly more input from more sources and more pilots than any one of us could have.

As for DPA, I don't think they got much further than getting out of the gate. Lot's of promises and attacks, but little substance. They promised two comm reps in each base (who are they), they promised C&BLs (where is it), they promised professional negotiators(who are they, who have they retained), they promised financial transparency (what's the status of their funds and exactly what have they spent their money on). I haven't seen any of those promises kept. As they say in Texas, "all hat, no cattle."