To: All Delta Pilots July 29, 2015

From: Captain John Malone
Subject: MEC Chairman Election

Fellow Pilots,

Earlier today, I announced my intention to run for MEC Chairman. I sent a formal notice to each member of the MEC declaring my candidacy and I wanted to communicate with you as well.

As you know, the MEC Chairman works directly for, and is elected by, the MEC, which is comprised of your local council representatives. But, ultimately, the MEC Chairman works for you and you should be aware of the candidates running for office and their positions.

The recent overwhelming rejection of the TA is, in my opinion, a symptom of a much larger problem; that being a wide and growing chasm between the MEC and the pilot group. The disconnect between the two must be repaired before we can make any progress on our contract. I have a plan to bridge that disconnect and restore trust in your union.

First, a little about me. As many of you know, I was the Chairman of the Negotiating Committee for Contract 2000 and later MEC Chairman during the pre-bankruptcy period; two completely different dynamics. I have worked in ALPA leadership roles during the best of times and the worst of times. That experience, including both good decisions and mistakes made, is invaluable in helping the MEC and the pilot group to move forward together.

The next MEC Chairman must quickly build his team, re-prepare the pilot group for Section 6 Negotiations, make changes to the way the MEC conducts its business and demonstrate to the pilot group their message has been heard – loud and clear.

I will be reaching out to each member of the MEC in the coming days to hear their concerns and share ideas on how to better serve the Delta Pilots. Once that task is completed, I will present an outline of specific recommendations for the MEC and I will share those with you as well.

The Delta Pilots deserve a contract we can all be proud of. If elected, I will work tirelessly on your behalf to achieve that goal. Recognizing the task ahead may only be achieved with a unified pilot group pulling in the same direction, I commit to putting the pieces in place to help you see the path to a successful conclusion of negotiations as well as establishing a much more customer-focused union.

I look forward to your input and feedback. You will hear from me again shortly.

Respectfully,
John Malone
ATL 7ERA