Survey
 

Might as well just be one question.

Do you think they will give us a TA without concessions in productivity, sick leave, scope, and profit sharing?

That question sums up bull**** survey. FWIW, I did it anyway. I didn't say what DALPA wanted to hear so my answers will probably be ignored. I answered every question assuming contract modification would be a concession.

These alpa surveys are a joke. Malone should have made fixing this his first priority. Alpa must go

My first answer is the only one they need to read, though it made me fill in all the other answers in order to submit. Emphases added.

My single most important goal is RESTORATION of compensation, work rules, and benefits to a level commensurate with the professionalism, sacrifice, and investment of the pilot force and the resultant financial success of Delta Air Lines. Restoration has occurred in executive compensation and stockholder returns, as is just. It is equally just that restoration now occur for the pilot group. All pilots of all seniorities have sacrificed through the past several years, whether through pay and benefit cuts at DAL proper, trickle-down effects in regional and corporate flying, or honorable service in the military over the past two and a half decades of war. Restoration must include:

- Restored compensation, to inflation-adjusted pre-bankruptcy levels. I am perfectly fine with including profit sharing in these computations.

- Restored benefits. Healthcare must be industry-leading. Pensions must be restored, whether through reinstatement of defined benefits, dramatic increases in defined contributions, or a combination of both.

- Restored work rules. Involuntarily exceeding 75 hours in a month should be an exception, and compensation, work rules, and staffing should reflect that value. A day of training or vacation should pay the same as a day of work, and vacation accumulation needs to be restored as well.

Restoration does NOT include concessions in scope, sick policy, LCA trip removal, or other areas. DAL may not transfer the ACA "Cadillac" tax burden to pilots.

...and then I ran out of my 1500 character limit.

I answered "unsure" to the questions based on "modification." Since the modification was not stated as an improvement or a concession, there's no way to give an answer that has any meaning one way or the other. I explained this in the comments section of the survey. And, yes, I'm sure the authors of the survey intended it to mean concessions... but I'm not playing that game.

This signals an underwhelming start for Malone.

Why would he use the same pollster? Inexplicable.

Need Help With Answers
 

I stumbled through the survey and did a "save, don't submit." I concur with what's been said here. But given it's the only hand I have to play at the moment, I want to make the best of it. Maybe I could get some help as follows?

1) C2K rates adjusted for inflation. I know somebody took the time to build a table to demonstrate what those amounts would be, and posted on APC. I cannot locate it now. Hints?

2) The concept of a post-retirement annuity on top of our defined contribution plan sounds appealing. Does anybody know how it would work? Assuming a chunk of money were allocated for that versus increases to our current "B Fund," what are the benefits versus seeking the same amount as additional wages? I project that all of us 12-year or better guys who exercise the max employee contribution will be bumping on 415C limits with the pay rates we hope to secure. Aren't increased employer contributions (or an annuity) just converted to wages in a round-about way, when 415 is triggered? Maybe the pooled-buy concept could score us an annuity that is a tremendous value compared to individual shopping. Otherwise I'm not sure. I was considering buying an annuity with 20% of my nest egg anyhow, so at least I'll have steady payments to buy Spam, Mad Dog 20/20 and pay the taxes on my single wide!

3) Do we consider retro pay to be a given? As a FNW pilot, I astounded a South captain when I balked at his assumption retro pay is "a thing." He says Delta always got it, always will. Obviously I am referring to retro based on the amendable date, not early deals. Particular to the survey's line of questioning, how long we're comfortable battling for a contract is somewhat correlated to the notion of retro pay. I'm good for a prolonged camp-out to get what's right. But a lot of guys are already counting lost dollars. What's the net group "feel" regarding retro?

4) There was a survey question about our satisfaction with the MEC. If we are talking MEC circa June/July 2015 ... well, you know my answer. If we are talking Malone and other changes at the LEC level, it's too early to tell. I'm pretty happy with the momentum at my Council 20, but those guys were on-board for doing the right thing with C2015 TA1 anyhow. How the heck do we answer that question about the MEC, without serious qualification?

I didn't like many of the survey questions due to the reasons you've listed above, but in regards to your number 4 above (and lots of other questions) I gave them an earful on what I thought about the POS TA 1, and the MD-11 Yes Men.

I just about filled up all the comment boxes to be sure I got my point across, because I felt the questions being asked were way off the mark in many cases.

My bottom line is top 3 in every section of the contract. Also, a full cleansing of DALPA. I named the elected, unelected, reps and committee types, the black shirted goons from POS 2015 that have to be removed under this administration to get my support. Whether it be resignations, firings, or marginalizing them until they walk away. I don't care how the cleansing is done, just get it done.

You already submitted a survey, why would you submit another one?

The surveys may be a joke but our MEC Chairman is correct when says we need a very high percentage participation to show the company the pilot group is engaged and unified. We definitely need to portray this to the company.

Denny