That talking point was debunked (was it ever "bunked" to begin with?) by a guy with contacts in the training department.

You know, I initially thought you were a nefarious management plant sent to push the company's talking points.

However, I may have succumbed to the philosophical pitfall known as "Hanlon's Razor", which states:
"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence."

I contacted my reps, too. They say they haven't been briefed on my areas of concern, specifically scope and compensation.

They think the specific rumors we have been hearing may be trial balloons from the other side. They think it's going to cost the Company a lot of money. The responses didn't sound like people who were rushing to get this finished for the sake of getting it finished.

I explained that I didn't want another 9433 event. From a practical standpoint, it is too late once a TA is presented to fashion any changes. That is why I was engaging them in dialogue at this time.

After our exchange, I came away with a better opinion of the situation. Keep paying attention.

It's not insiders knowledge. It what my rep told me - just like he would tell anyone who simply asked. I don't know where it came from - but another rumor is that it was leaked by the company. If I was a betting man I'd say it was floated to see our reaction in an attempt to rush the contract. After we screamed they'd come back to the negotiators with a slightly better deal and judge their reaction. Rinse. Repeat.

9-6-4-4 minus profit sharing and efficiency improvements would be the first contract to be voted down by Delta pilots IMO. After all the smoke and mirrors were removed it would cost the company 5-10% more. 9-6-5-5 without profit sharing reductions would pass.

"Heightened expectations" among pilots, (an Ed Bastian quote) are significant and all of us, a little wiser now, are watching closely.

I re read my post. I am have no idea what you are referring to when you reference my post and staffing concessions. YOU are the one posting the airline must have staffing concessions to operate. I have posted they are doing fine and can staff the airline just fine under the current work rules.

Which updates. The one I read said hiring will be down through the rest of the year. There is nothing magic here. The crunch this summer was caused by marketing adding a big block of additional flight hours at the last minute. That was referenced in numerous company documents.
The transition of DCI flying to the mainline is winding down. The last 717's will be delivered this fall. Mainline block hours will trend up at a much lower rate going forward. Pilot retirements in mass are still a few years away.
One pilot posted on here that we were canceling international flights out of JFK due to no crews. I took a look on Delta net for the weekend he referenced and the two days before and after. There were a total of 6 canceled flights system wide during that period. None of the six were for crew and none were to Europe or international.

They are covering the ER F/O seat in ATL & NYC with oobGS/GSWC/Assignments...they're scrambling!

That happens almost every summer. Used to happen for CAptains also but they have been much better the last two years. In a category with 30% swings in block hours it's never easy to staff for the full year. The company also put out that they had a very late increase in ER block hours from marketing. They increased the hiring rate and placed a bunch more new hires in NY. They start hitting the line in June. In the short term there are going to be some rich Copilots!
G

Maybe they're not scrambling system-wide, but they are in some categories. I'm not 100% sure what Jerry and Sailing are doing with this exchange, but it seems completely obvious that the company CAN find ways to handle the training, but doesn't want to, because it will be bost costly and difficult.

Costly and difficult can both be overcome.

...

I just told my wife that things look to be heating up on a potential contract, and the pieces were rumored to coming together very fast. It took her but a fraction of a second to conclude that we (pilots) are going to want to read the fine print very carefuly.

A sharp woman, my wife.

Scrambling is good...the Company covers the flights, and the pilots make good money..I'm sure some pilots are complaining since they are not the ones making the $$.