As many have said, I am very pleased with the timing and temperament of John Malone's communications. Today's Chairman's letter is no exception. I'll post below since I haven't seen it on APC yet. I'd like to see the AJC full page ad he mentions. Please put up a copy if you can, or tell me how to find it.


The attached document is available on the Delta MEC website, dal.alpa.org.



May 2, 2016

Fellow Delta Pilots,

May 2 is a very important date for two reasons in Delta pilot history. On May 2, 2000, the Delta Pilot Working Agreement became amendable for what would become known as Contract 2000 — aka C2K. I was fortunate enough to be the Negotiating chairman for C2K. Those negotiations spanned almost 18 months. Many considered C2K to have set the new standard for pilot compensation and I’m proud of my negotiating team’s effort along with the MEC, the MEC administration and, most importantly, the pilot group. The pilot group was faced with many challenges, but we hung together and produced real results.

There are many parallels between C2K and our current negotiations, as highlighted in the recent Widget. Like me, many of the key people involved in C2K have come out of “retirement” from ALPA work to once again secure a contract we can all be proud of. And, just like before, management is testing our resolve; that’s to be expected (it is their job) and we are amply prepared for that.

One important difference between then and now is the remarkable financial condition Delta finds itself in. Thanks to the leadership of Mr. Anderson and the hard work of you and your fellow Delta employees, we are now working for the most profitable airline in aviation history. Unlike past negotiations, we are no longer fighting over money that doesn’t exist.

That brings me to the other reason May 2nd is important. Today, May 2, 2016, marks the passing of the torch from Mr. Anderson to our new CEO, Mr. Bastian. To commemorate this event, I’ve taken out a full page ad on your behalf in the Atlanta Journal Constitution to publicly thank Mr. Anderson and congratulate Mr. Bastian.

We stand ready to help Mr. Bastian write the next chapter in Delta’s remarkable success story and are hopeful May 2, 2016 will bring a new sense of urgency to management to negotiate the contract we have earned. It is now our turn to fully reap the benefits of our deep sacrifices over the past 10 years and we remind management of our goal to obtain a strongly ratifiable agreement by the busy summer season.

Stay informed. Stay engaged. Stay professional. And, most importantly, stay together.

Fraternally,

Captain John Malone
Delta MEC Chairman

 

On behalf of over 13,000 Delta pilots, I thank Mr. Richard Anderson for his outstanding service during his nine years as CEO of Delta Air Lines and congratulate Mr. Ed Bastian as he assumes that role today.
Under Mr. Anderson’s visionary leadership, Delta emerged from bankruptcy and completed a seamless integration with Northwest Airlines. Together, Delta’s 80,000 employees raised the bar for quality and reliability. Delta is now the envy of the industry for its unprecedented financial and operational success.
Delta pilots play a critical role in that success; never more so than during Delta’s darkest days of bankruptcy. Just 10 years ago, Delta pilots voluntarily sacrificed billions of dollars in pay and pension benefits to keep Delta aloft. It is with great pride Delta employees are witnessing the return of our airline to its proper place at the top of the industry.
More than any other airline industry leader in recent history, Mr. Anderson understands the importance of maintaining positive employee relationships. Delta’s loyal workforce is the heart and soul of the Delta Difference.
The Delta pilots stand ready to work with Mr. Bastian as he takes the helm. We hope to complete our contract negotiations by the busy summer season, so we may focus on charting the next course in Delta’s remarkable journey.
Once again, a heartfelt thank you to Mr. Anderson and congratulations to Mr. Bastian.
Sincerely,
//s// Captain John Malone
Master Chairman
Delta Master Executive Council
Air Line Pilots Association

 

That is SOLID!

 

Thanks for posting PD!

Again, just the right tone, with perhaps some reading between the lines. I love the employment of Delta corporate buzzwords: "The Delta Difference." We as employees have quite a bit of exposure to the term via internal communications. But more importantly, our customers have been hearing it from Richard in the welcome aboard video on our aircraft. As Delta customers read the AJC ad, "The Delta Difference" should resonate as familiar and meaningful. The phrase is craftily woven into the ad in a manner that makes it clear Delta pilots are a major component of that difference. I hope future public communications from Captain Malone will evolve to highlight the fact that other employee groups (including executives) are much closer to being "made whole" than the the pilots. I also enjoy that it was respectfully made clear that Bastian has some big shoes to fill, and what happens next is up to him. Another faith-building move from our Chairman!