One's strength in negotiations is the point where you can justify walking away. I contend that Delta needed this deal far more than we did. When the company started down the road paved with massive concessions, we should have walked away. take a week or two off instead of pushing such a fevered pace. No one can tell what would have happened, but judging from the reactions of people I run into, the old agreement is their choice between the two.

With TAs that suck this bad I expect we should be signing these as often as AEs going forward. Well, eventually we might run out of things to give up.

If this TA goes through, I have no doubt that the next TA will be a similar steady raise. 15-20%

Like you said though, as long as we lead the industry, we are in a position of weakness at the negotiating table. Neither the company nor the NMB will take our side. That is one of the costs for having a smooth, early, and leading contract.

Don't think this is true. We are coming from a position of strength due to record profits and the fact that the pilot group has not made up for the concessionary contracts of yore.

Our contract today doesn't lead the industry in one single section. Not one. (Source DALPA contract comparison). This TA is worse, not better. Therefore the only true thing that can be said about this TA is that it's early. It's not smooth and it certainly doesn't lead.

Carl

Our vacation is a cruel joke.

Delta 122:30

UAL 137

Alaska 143:30

UPS 175

FedEx 210

In this environment, why would we accept one minute less than Alaska?

Fail.

I have no doubt the next ta would have similar concessions in productivity and probably the same cost neutral to cost negative raises.

And you can BET we will once again trade away more profit sharing for a 'raise'. We have done this EVERY CONRACT since profit sharing stated paying off!

I said C20125 would be a repeat of C2012.

I was wrong. C2015 is WORSE.

If we vote yes to this POS, what do you think C2018 is going to look like?

Yeah, Worse still!

Less profit sharing, still more concessions and more 3% raises. Count on it.

That same individual telling you that you are "not smart to vote no" once believed his T-38 instructor that they wouldn't be able to hear each other in the T-38 simulator when they exceeded Mach 1...

Two big misconception about the new sick leave:

1: It will only affect about one third of the pilots

WRONG. It will affect ALL pilots. Look at the website that lists Sedgwick, the new sick leave administrator, and all the BS they have done. Releasing all medical records, denying claims, harassing employees. That is what they are PAID to do. "GOOD FAITH" puts EVERYONE in the crosshairs.

2: This is being done to 'stop the abuse'.

WRONG. There is no more abuse here than at other companies. There are other ways to reduce abuse (bank system) that wouldn't be so onerous. This is about CONTROL. OF YOU..
When the new mental health regs are released by the FAA, this section will be the most intrusive and potentially threatening to your career of anything imaginable.