Quote:
Originally Posted by DAL73n
Shiz,
How come you and the other Yes voters seem to omit the negatives (concessions) of this TA:
1. We have a higher ALV (+2 hours) that will force approximately 6 extra days (minimum) per year that offsets any increases in vacation.BUT TLV only goes up by 1 hour. ADG, 1:45 more per week of vaca, and :30 per training day will unequivocally more than offset the TLV change. It is a way to hide money for pilots.
2. While any increase is good the increase in per diem (5%) doesn't even match our increases in costs (while we travel - food, etc) over the last 7 years since BK. I wanted more too, they tried for US GOV CONUS/OCONUS but the company would not agree to it.
3. Reserves do get an increase in base pay BUT does not match the extra work they will be doing with ALV + 15, reserve guarantee +2, extra short call. Don't think the company hasn't modeled (remember the reason it takes more than a day to post schedules is because they make more than one run to make sure it is optimized). Rreserves are done at their "reserve guarantee" in the TA (ALV -2:00 when ALV is 74:00-82:00 and ALV -4:00 when ALV is 84:00). Also now reserve pilots have their fly requirement reduced for training, vacation, and other pre-posted events, unlike today's contract, which means that you will be 11:15 OR MORE below the published reserve guarantee 4-6 months out of every year.
Reserves are eligible for ADG, which will help turn the 2-day ATL-SAV 2:30 trip for a reserve into a 9:00 trip (extreme example, but the point is that reserves will have higher credit per day, which will force more reserve pilots to staff for the same block hours of flying)
ALV +15 is a theoretical, almost impossible to happen event with the SOT changes. (Remember you are still done when within ALV -2:00 (-4:00 sometimes)
It sucks a little, but extra short call is ONLY when RES GUAR. is above 75:00. Compared to today, you would get paid 5:00 or more hours for a month with a "chance" to get to 7 SC's. Remember that the SOT made it likely that everyone gets SC's in a more balanced fashion, so unless everyone else in your situation has 6, you won't get a 7th.
4. We are still working for free (and all the money the company has saved with distributed training) by only getting 1 minute of pay for every 2 minutes of running time - can't figure how this one got through in the first place. You will be getting paid on the "duty rig". Not perfect, but a 50% improvement over current book. (1:30 CQ pays :30 min, TA pays :45 multiply it by 4 and you got an extra hour of pay for doing the exact same work.. I call that a pay raise!)
5. 4-8.5-3-3 (I look at it as 12.84/3/3 with a 2% signing bonus)loses 2-2.5% due to lost profit share and 3-4%/year (minimum - I and most others believe "real inflation" is much higher due to the way the government calculates inflation. So now, our 18.5% (19.7% compounded however you want to look at it) is only 3-4% after inflation (Max) which is no real increase in our standard of living.
So getting nothing will help fight that inflation how?
6. While DCI is decreasing a little faster than it would have naturally, we are solving managements problems (our only real leverage - why do you think this deal got done so fast) and letting them exchange OLD 50 seaters (a little early) for brand new 76 seaters (likely with WiFi, IFE, and First class - thereby placating our HVCs) that will be around for 30 years (RA has said he will only buy new A/C with a 30 year life span). There is nothing that guarantees that this will increase main line jobs (SD's recent statements notwithstanding). I believe that this will allow DAL to exercise capacity discipline with DCI and reduce DCI block hours to comply with the new ratios. Nobody can guarantee jobs. The scope is job protection in big way.
7. Everyone seems to be missing that the new A/C will at first replace the DC-9s (the first 21 717s) It has been stated over and over again, but the MD-90's are replacing the DC9 fleet. which means no new pilots through at least 2014.(your opinion, no factual basis) In addition, the 737-900s have already been stated to be replacement A/C for domestic 757s/767s which will then be more lower paying jobs. (and also will replace a whole lot of lower paying 319/320 jobs......)
I'm sure I've missed a few more, just wanted to make sure we get some of the cons out there which DALPA is sure to leave out of all the road shows and NNPs. You've missed a lot is more like it.
I don't omit the negatives, I've merely spent more time looking at the details and how it puts more money in my bank account, more job security in my position, and more time to spend at home, over and above the current agreement.
Is it a perfect deal? No.
The perfect contract has never been signed.
Is this deal good? Yes.
Do I want to gamble on a European meltdown or Israel launching a strike on Iran erasing this offer and subsequently the company's profitability to pay the increases to us? NO!
Do I want to be back at the table $50-60k richer with 19.7% higher rates when we would likely be settling a "first" TA the traditional way? HECK YES!