At the end of the day, ads in newspapers don't accomplish anything for anyone. Believe me, if things don't move along smartly with negotiations, Wall St. will take notice and it will cost the execs money. For now, labor risk is still 'off the table'. For now. If nothing happens by the next quarter's conference call, then they will have some tough questions to answer. If I were our MEC chairman, I'd be editing a nice letter to the members talking about 'nickel and diming... except we were only offered the nickel... and how that is really an astounding path to take with the group who brought you record profits. If things aren't moving forward in negotiations, that letter goes out to the membership and you'll see it quoted in the WSJ the same day. Cautions to investors will follow, stock price will waver. Questions will be posed: Can you really reach your goal of JD power #1? Do you think your agreement with corporate customers will cost you money if your on time percentages fall, as they often do during protracted and increasingly hostile negotiations? Nobody here wants to see this happen, but it most certainly will if our sacrifices and our contributions to the bottom line aren't properly accounted for at the bargaining table.

I agree, I see two key dates that affect the morale of this pilot group. The December 1 shafting and the January 1 amendable date. From then on it goes downhill quickly.

If the company does not move in our direction and quickly then we must use the only, and I mean the only leverage we have... Put labor unrest back on the table and kill any chance of JD Powers #1.

For now they will offer absolutely nothing more until they sense a change, and a big one, is coming. Nobody wants it but we must realize it is the only bullet we have. If they don't think we will use it they will not give an inch.

JMHO

Agree with the above timeline 100%. Right now the pilot groups anger is focused inward. Any hesitation, stonewalling or inflexibility on the Companies behalf and the sentiment flips dramatically and rapidly. The company has a VERY narrow timeframe to get this done and after that things get ugly.

I disagree on the value of ads however. If we are to put labor risk back on the table then we go all out from day 1. No graduated escalation. We need shock and awe. Full page ads in every major fish wrapper along with a public letter from Malone to the AFA tossing our support and resources behind their efforts.

I agree, this is now a real fight and to win you do what you need to do. All in or go home. The first punch was the December 1 raises. The counter punch needs to hit them financially as well, and as hard as we can throw it.

I thought PS was our big hammer that would bring mgmt back to the table over time? Now you want to reduce its effectiveness by impacting the company financially, which in the end only reduces OUR leverage.:confused:

How about having some patience..and letting the MEC negotiate while ever increasing pilot profit-sharing pi$$es of Wall Street so much that they pressure mgmt to return to the table ready to make a deal that all Delta pilots can support.:D

Respectfully,

CG

I agree that when we do come out fighting you don't hold back, but we aren't even to the amendable date for the contract yet. I think it would be bad form to do anything now, our counter offensive can wait till at least Jan 1st.

The dates I posted are DEC 1 and JAN 1, the holiday season provides potential leverage. The DEC 1 date was their choice. But yes, the amendable date is the most likely catalyst.

The threat of financial impact is a real lever. The profit will continue after our public efforts, but the stock price and debt ratings would be called into question and probably not recover until the contract is settled, giving them incentive to do something sooner rather than later.

This company will make money but the customer service awards will have to wait. The amount of damage control needed to recover the brand will be dependent on how far they let it go. I think they are smart enough not to let this get to the point where they are spending more on damage control than on the cost of the pilot contract.

They need us, and its easier to tell the media we are going to get along after a deal when the spat was largely superficial. Entering mediation in March does nothing to convince the financial evaluators this will get done quickly and remove labor risk, in fact it does the opposite and escalates the situation because we were not able to figure it out on our own.

You got those right.

Many backpack wearers will be taking them off and tossing them in the dumpster after Jan 1.

The Dec 1 shafting and the TA say proactive engagement is a one way street, clearly.

The DALPA hard sell of NA15 says DALPA is broken, clearly.

Here's some intent from the 2007 sec filing that set up profit sharing.

"While the emergence compensation for Delta’s pilots and flight dispatchers is covered by collective bargaining agreements, both of these groups have fully participated in the measures that were essential to Delta’s survival, recovery and planned emergence from Chapter 11 as a strong, healthy competitor. These groups also will fully share in the successes that their sacrifices and contributions are making possible."

How are the dispatchers doing relative to their 2004 pay rates?

March 22, 2007 sec filing

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/da...773/ex99-2.htm