bcrosier

I don't directly have a dog in this fight but as I said in another thread, I am astounded that there even has to be a debate discussion on this issue!

IIRC - Delta MEC's myopic vision back in the 80's is one of the reasons this whole industry is in the mess it's in now. The "Proud Mainline Pilots" didn't want to be associated with the "Lowly Commuter Pilots" (as they were then known). Granted in the days of J-31's and Metros, there was a big disparity between the two operations. Nonetheless, I said it then, and I'll say it again now:

Any MEC with a collective IQ that exceeds room temparature should be able to see that the ONLY real solution to the continued erosion of mainline flying is to SCOPE IN all flying done for the carrier!!!

I fail to see what is so hard to grasp about that concept, unless of course one is letting their ego do the thinking. Failing to do so will be every bit as detrimental to this profession as Lorenzo was. Yes, I said it - an MEC at this date and time who SCOPES OUT flying (that is, has it done be anyone other than by pilots on the mainline seniority list) deserves to be regarded in the same light as Frank Lorenzo - a pariah who has done great harm to the entire industry and set the profession back decades. (Am I making myself clear on this? As a local preacher says, "Is anyone listening, can I get a witness here?")

Thank you! Some one gets it - but it's NOT just about jobs at Delta, it's about changing the course of the entire industry one step at a time. Just like 19 seats turned into 34 seats, which became 50 seats, and now 76 seats - it's got to be changed one step at a time, and here and now is the time to start that, as there will likely not be a better opportunity.

Like I said at the beginning, I don't have a dog directly in this fight (I don't work for DAL or CPZ), but I damn sure have a dog in this fight in that I am in this industry that has been progressively wrecked for the last 20 years. Now let's quit being idiots and dickering about "who's worthy to be a XXX pilot" and start "Taking the Profession Back" to steal a line.

I am truly disgusted and appalled that there is even a discussion on this issue. Good luck to all of you who actually get it - anyone who doesn't is so damn dumb you'll have a hard time explaining it to them.

nwa757

Compass pilots are subject the the brunt of a 100% furlough flow down from DAL, the largest seniority list in the world. Comair and Mesaba are not. (Mesaba has just a limited flowback). Therefore, Comair and Mesaba pilots have job security, and Compass pilots have a lot less. Compass pilots all knew this when we signed up for the job, but a lot has changed since the Compass flow was written. The economy has done a 180, and the merger and retirement rate of the mainline seniority list has slowed a lot.

These are the concerns of the Compass pilots that should be supported by the DAL MEC. Instead of spinning us off into our own MEC and creating further division within our profession, we need to stand united. This isn't all about the senior pilots. It's about every generation of pilots. Getting seniority numbers for Compass pilots would be a sign of UNIFYING the Compass pilots with the NWA/DAL list, instead of making us another whipsawing regional and putting the ball in management's court AGAIN.

One thing at a time. Once Compass needs are taken care of, it can set a precedent to improve career progress and scope at other wholly owned regionals around the country.

johnso29

I'm not asking about stapling. I want that. I'm asking how would splitting off CPZ from the DAL MEC be advantageous to the DAL pilot group.

acl65pilot

I persoanlly do not see an advantage to it. Now from the MEC level it has it advantages. It prevents a conflict of interest with whom they are representing. The way I understand it, they think that representing a "regional" pilot group on a mainline MEC provides multiple areas of interest that diverge from each other.

I see this as an opportunity, not as an issue. I get the impression that no matter how many times we write our reps, they are on mission and will not change course.
Along with the resolutions that are being presented at the coming LEC meetings, maybe you should also present on that keeps CPZ representation status quo. I fear that if you do not, that on March 31st it will be another piece of sand that has slipped through our fingers.

(The only reason I see the MEC doing this is to separate us and then try a power grab on the jets and or flying. A long shot a best)

mynameisjim

My rep has confirmed the Delta MEC wants to remove CPZ from DALPA and that it is planned for the March 31st MEC meeting.

To recap:
We have an MEC that doesn't see any value in attempting to, or even asking about integrating Compass. They want to sever the union relationship with Compass altogether.

How long will the flow up/down last with the current DALPA MEC mentality? Maybe they can trade the Flow program for free coffee in the crew room. Then they can get started on outsourcing the E190.

acl65pilot

Well, call your reps and see if they support your MEC. If they do there are LEC meeting coming up to rectify this.

nwa757

Exactly. The Compass flow can be used as a bargaining chip in the future and this is dangerous.

If the economy tanks more, DAL management can come to the new CPZ MEC and ask if they want to cancel flow. If there was a yes, then the financial benefits would be huge. Spin off Compass, then you don't have to train flowbacks, etc.

Jim is right guys. Every DAL pilot needs to write to their LEC/MEC and help them realize the advantages of keeping Compass within our MEC. De-unifying/spinning off more divisions of this union is not the way to go. Lets make sure the ATL guys know this.

mynameisjim

Unfortunately CPZ only gives pilots 11 days off, so on average 65% of pilots are unable to attend their LEC meeting. I'm one of those. I've written in, about all I can do. It's becoming obvious that my MEC does not speak for me. Can I have a sticker that says that?

contrails

Actually, it is my understanding that even if Compass was to be sold, the flowthrough/flowback remains as it is (unless some LOA was created to change that).

I bet if Lee Moak and MEC saw a bunch of junior Delta pilots flow back to Compass the tune might change about who represents that seniority list. Then again, maybe not, because it doesn't seem like they care about the bottom 4000ish numbers.

JoeyMeatballs

I think Compass will end up like XJT after CAL, or Comair......... sad but true. The beginning of this is removing Compass from the DAL/NWA Union......

Just like XJT's spinoff funded the seriously underfunded CAL Pilots pension, if times get tough over at NWA/DELTA the spinoff of Compass could bring in some very much needed cash and I would expect the flow-through to cease unless there was some major furloughing around the corner. It will come down to what benefits the DAL/NWA MANAGEMENT the most