Carl Spackler

To all my new Delta brethren:

I've known Ken Watts for over 25 years. He is one incredibly tough animal when it comes to defending what's in a contract - and he rarely loses a grievance. He's the kind of guy you will want in the new DALPA. Other than Ken, I wouldn't recommend a single former NWALPA guy to the new union.

Ken's the best contract admin/grievance chair we've ever had and he almost never submits a claim for missed trips due to ALPA work. He works his ass off for the membership, then flies a full schedule.

Think what you want, but I hate to see a really good man derided.

Carl

Pineapple Guy

Absolutely. Sailingfun's post was equally unproductive, and I hope he is not choosing to go down the RD vs FNWA mudslinging road. I hope he'll refrain in the future.

PG

Pineapple Guy

He may be a great guy, but can you explain what beneficial outcome could possibly come from the mass mailing? It seems to be nothing more than airing dirty laundry, and totally counterproductive, assuming the goal is to work together in the future. We will have one MEC very soon, under one MEC Chairman. Let's keep the we vs them to a minimum.

PG

Ferd149

I agree. I've flown with Ken and he is a first rate guy! We all want him as our contract gru and the faster we can spool him up to speed the better for all of us.

Only a small section of the brief was put on here. The vast majority of the publication is his frustration with the old NWA just stalling and trying to run out the clock on issues we've been trying to get settled forever.

Once again, when you meet him you'll agree......we want Ken!

Ferd

Carl Spackler

I think I can explain it. Ken is an extremely straight forward guy. You never have to worry about a back stab with him, because he does battle face to face. He has said that the only thing worse than living with a sub-standard contract is not defending that sub-standard contract which makes it even worse.

He honestly believes DALPA should spend more time helping to educate us on the fine points of the contract and the historical precedents at Delta. DALPA obviously does not see it that way. Ken has his opinion and he is calling NWA "management" and DALPA out on it. That's what he does when all other avenues fail. Sometimes there are no beneficial outcomes to clearly stating the facts as you see them to the entire membership. I respect that.

To the extent that we can keep it to a minimum, that is a good thing. But we have a joint contract now. Having nearly all of the improvements happen at bid period 5 for NWA pilots only is insulting - given we have a joint contract. It's even more insulting to have no clarity whatsoever as to when bid period 5 will be. Anderson has a very short memory if he thinks NWA pilots will stand for this much longer.

Carl

Free Bird

Not sure how things went at NWA? Did your Union folks give you a class on the current contract? Did they give you CD's to "teach" you the contract?

Relax. As a new hire in 2001 and as a recall in 2007 at Delta I was never "educated" on the contract by DALPA. It was completely up to me to read the contract and become familiar with it. That's the way it is.

If anyone who strongly resembles a former NWA pilot thinks that DALPA is neglecting them; well, good news, Dalpa treats us all the same.

Free Bird

Carl, got a question for you. I agree, we should all be all equal footing at this point in time.

That being said, if you guys are not happy with the bid period 5 thing (which btw I have no idea what that is). Why did you guys vote in favor of the Joint contract?

Carl Spackler

Perhaps I didn't word it very well, but the "education" that is being requested by NWALPA is for the union officials. When you go into grievance hearings, past practice has a great deal to do with the outcome. Our guys have no idea what past practices were at Delta unless DALPA educates our contract admin guys.

The rank and file NWA guys have no problem with understanding the contract.

Carl

Carl Spackler

First of all, bid period 5 is 4 bid periods after bid period 1. Bid period 1 will start when the transition group says it will start. They say they are working day and night trying to decide when bid period 1 will be. Most of the contract improvements in the joint contract will not be activated for NWA pilots until bid period 5. We were led to believe that bid period 1 would be concurrent with the SLI. We were stupid for not getting that in writing. Now DAL management is enjoying the extra productivity from NWA pilots while they drag their feet on defining when bid period 1 will occur.

However, even knowing what we know now, I can't say whether being cut out of the contract enhancements would have changed the vote on the NWA side. I'd just be guessing.

Carl

Ferd149

I agree Carl. I don't think it would have changed the vote much. There was no real up side to a no vote for us as the merger was going to happen anyway.