Looks like the leak is working.
Tell your respective MEC what you want. What you are willing to give up, and what you are not going to live with out. If a deal cannot be reached we see where this will go.

Suffice to say, I think that DALPA hold many if not all of the high cards. Kind of helps when the dealer is on your side.

How does DALPA hold the high cards or what are you referring to as high cards?

On a seperate issue, I would like to clarify something, reading all the posts I have gotten lost,
So Delta wants a relative list, meaning if you are 1000 then you should be equal in a joint merged list.
NWA wants a DOH list meaning you maybe 1000 but you may have several more yrs of DOH then 1000 at DAL.
If this is correct, then where is the stapling that NWA supposedly wants? I am not trying to spark anything here, I am just trying to figure out what is being accused and said. I understand both sides of not wanting one or the other.

If Delta pilots tried to accept a contract that was only beneficial to them, that would be a slap in the face to the other pilot group? I would hope there is more mature approaches and they would not screw the other group like that. Just b.c. it is thought one group holds more cards, doesn't mean you should deminish the others quality of life. Everyone is agreed (or atleast I hope) that everyone is going to feel screwed by this, but if its lopsided (or one group goes out of their way (by accepting a one sided contract) to screw the others), I can say there will be a lot of hostility. THAT IS NOT GOOD, again remeber we SHOULD be unified, not split! Again, I hope a more Mature approach and logic would be used by both sides!

I think that the staple was a rumor at best.
The slotted approach is the one that hurt you guys the most. That is why you rescinded it.
High cards because of what what the facts are. With this latest twist it is clear to see that management is playing with us this week. It will be our managers that run this mess, and probably our MEC that survives. That said, it is plausable to state that RA would like to keep us happy at a min. and all of us happy as a goal.
Personally all of this is a very strong approach to get the results that are warranted. It fear does it then so be it. I think we will find out very shortly if that worked.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

DALPA worked very hard to reach consensus with NWALPA. They bent over backward to be "fair". Bringing NWA immediately up to Delta payrates, DC contribution percentages, and work rules are examples. There was no transition. It was immediate and DALPA got nothing in return. NWALPA, OTOH, tried to get a "win" at every opportunity. When the two sides couldn't find a mutually acceptable position, each side then was on its own to do the best it could.

And thats where we sit.

Yep, until someone comes off of that mountain.

How did DALPA bend over backwards? I was under the assumption that the contract was proposed by Mgmt. I was not aware of any MEC neg that contract, so how does DALPA get credit for those contract changes? You say DALPA got nothing, werent you all getting a raise out of it as well? I am not trying to cause a spark of conflict, I just do not understand the argument. Pls explain with facts, I just want to understand both sides clearly.

It is my understanding that the PWA was proposed by DALPA and agreed to in concept by DAL management. But the SLI had to be attached as well.

OK, I stand corrected, but this does not to me appear that the DALPA bent over backwards to help NWA pilots, they made a better contract then what they had (for themselves), yes NWA's was behind, but this should not be leverage to a merged SL.

Mgmt certainly did not propose a contract. Everything in there was negotiated, as it always is, at least from what I've been told.

DALPA got nothing by bringing NWA up to the Delta PWA. That cost XX millions, with nothing in exchange. Then from there forward, all gains were split. DALPA's contract also currently expires 12/31/09; I think the NWA contract lasts until 12/31/11. So, absent a PWA agreement, NWA lives with their negotiated contract for another 44 months, DAL 20 months.

Did you net get a stronger company with more cash? Remember, NWA Pilots are at stake as well, You didnt get 3 billion in cash, routes, airplanes, etc. without the NWA pilots. So, if there was to be a merger, it was inevitable that NWA would be brought up to atleast your current contract. Did you think they would merge and then tell you that you were going down to our contract? NO, and to get all the pilots on board the company approved certain contract improvements. Whether it was neg by DAL or NWA, but this doesnt mean DAL bent over backwards to help NWA. Mgmt did by not telling you werer coming down to our contract.