Delta TA, the ultimate irony
 

So here we are, the Delta pilots who single handedly saved the company from going under after 9/11, find themselves in a game of
NMB chicken with Mr. Anderson. Mr. Anderson who single handedly made the company prosper, who is loved by all the employees, has now introduced a level of vitriol in cockpit that I have never experienced before. I thought that was Ron Allen or Leo Mullin's job. How can it be that this leader could be so short sighted? Still very puzzled that the smartest guy in the room could commit this type of act. I am afraid Mr. Anderson has awoken a long slumbering sleeping giant. Guys who I have known for years, who never ever would have considered an alternate union, much less question their existing one, are now seriously upset. The ultimate irony is that the very man who single handedly made this company prosper, now seems to be ushering in a new age at Delta, I didn't think it could end this badly, but it looks as though the old school ways of Northwest, treat em like junkyard dogs, is back. Regardless how the TA vote comes down, I am afraid this is a sad time for Delta's future. We have all seen this story before and it seems to be repeating itself yet again. Sad indeed.

a tiger can't change its stripes!!!!!!!

they will always do what is best for them, when their needs are achieved by something that benefits you, then of course they are your friend, but as soon as their needs change, they will gladly eat you for dinner......

Good points. Anderson presents himself as the nice guy CEO with the southern accent (depending on the audience). Some might argue he's more dangerous than the guy you know is coming at you vs the guy smiling at you while he slowly pushes the knife in.

For the record, all the legacy airlines are making money now. Consolidation worked. Does Anderson get credit for pulling off a successful merger and getting the employees on board? Certainly. Did he save the industry or Delta? No. A lot of the current money rolling in was stolen from the employees through bankruptcy.

We get it, Anderson's job is to bring value to the shareholders. The question you have to ask yourself, at what cost to the employees and how much money is enough money? Delta is swimming in cash now while trying to kick the pilots in the teeth with draconian work rules. How far is too far? Oh, and Anderson, he's doing just fine for himself (check his latest compensation package!)

RA could never work another day in his life, and his family are set for generations. Good for him. But that's not enough.

We find ourselves staring down a sick leave policy that could best be described as inhumane, and could very easily end our careers if we don't fall into the company's "bell curve" of acceptable sick leave usage.

This is a turning point for us. I am encouraged by the unprecedented unity we are developing in opposition to this POS.

Sorry but this TA will fix sick leave abuse helping out our profit sharing. If you are really sick what is the problem having to prove it?

A Bridge Too Far
From wiki
An idiom inspired by Operation Market Garden, meaning an act of overreaching

We all know the history. I think its an analogy to what our CEO has done in demanding a concessionary, cost-neutral deal during unheard of, record profits from his most valuable asset -- his pilots.
Trying to do a quick but cost-saving deal, He has ridden his horse "dalpa" too hard and too fast and she is coming up lame. Now he is going to risk his legacy and his 17.9 million shares as he walks alone through the desert alone. Labor is back on the table.

HA HA ... I wonder who the old school negotiator for the company is who thought he had pulled a fast one on the pilots by rushing this TA then putting down the NMB card and scaring ALPA.. HA HA

I'll answer that...

I was hired partly for my flying experience, partly for my decision-making skills, partly for my proven integrity, and partly for my good looks! (OK, I'm possibly lacking in one of those characteristics.)

Since voluntary verification is gone under this TA (see section 14.F.2.), there is much more likelihood of using up the 15 days allotted for unverified sick leave than using my 100 unverified hours under the current contract.

That means any subsequent minor illness, like a cold, will require me to visit a doctor. I find that offensive and punitive.

If the company has a problem with sick leave abusers, there are plenty of other ways to deal with it, without punishing the entire pilot group. At the last LEC meeting I attended, both my captain rep and Chief Pilot stated that the company has been firing pilots lately for sick leave abuse. Sounds to me like the company is already on the way to fixing the problem.

Again, why punitively punish the whole group and force us to go to the doctor for a minor illness? This is not a "fix" for sick leave abuse. I'll let others chime in regarding the Medical Release Threshold aspect of this TA - if anything, it seems to provide an avenue for sick leave abuse on the company's behalf.

I think you're right.
I just got off a 4 day trip. People are talking. In the lounges and out on the curb waiting for the vans.
This feels different.
There is a "groundswell" forming that I have not seen before. Ever.

I certainly hope you guys are right. I just chatted with a captain that stated that "this is the best contract in airline history." I asked him if it was better than what we had in 2004 and he could not answer.

If someone has truly researched and understands what all the changes are and votes yes I can respect that but if they just blindly follow a few bullet points then I cannot respect their decision.