Check Essential

Whoa there. I like dissenting opinions. Even when stated inartfully and sometimes offensively.

It'd be pretty boring around here if all we had were pro-ALPA pro-company sailingfun types.

I be wearin' my Drank t-shirt.
We need that boy all up in here.
Fo shizzle.

dalad

Check, I am not a big ALPA fan, but there really is no alternative plan in place with the donut guys. I did send my card into them as a form of protest but ALPA can't be blamed for the mismanagement of the company starting with Mo' ron and Continued with Leo and his cronies. The true culprit was Grinstein for allowing the company to fall apart. Anyway I like to live life with a glass half full, I've got a good job and still hope to retire by 60. I fly with a lot of angry guys that are up to their ears in debt or getting a divorce and get to listen to their problems for 2, 3 , or more days. I try to listen and help with advice IF they ask for it. Purple reminds of one of those guys who blames his lot in life on everybody but himself. He never offers anything constructive to the debate, just rants about Delta or ALPA.

dalad

Someone had a good synopsis of what was going on from In Command. The company isn't pleased with ALK's shenanigans, and we are starting to add our own feed to SEA. Also want to add more long range flying out of SEA to Asia, overflying NRT. HA doesn't fit into our plans, either, as they have a lot of debt and don't own many of their airplanes.

GunshipGuy

You know my eyes typically focus straight on what is posted and then after reading will gravitate to who wrote what. Now this one was relatively tame, but it had that "defend the company at all costs" tinge to it since that 2.8 number seemed low compared to what my experience has been since last spring, so when my eyes drifted over to who its author was I had a sneaking suspicion I was on the money with one of my two picks.

SailorJerry

Yeah seriously. My monthly average over the last year is ~4.5 a month. I'm away from the actual numbers right now but I do track it, and it is higher than 2.8. I'd like to see a category by category breakdown. The airline is too diverse to cast a blanket statistic like that.

Did you think it was gonna be me?

dalad

2.8 a month seems pretty low to me, especially for the NYC 7ER A category.

GunshipGuy

I won't pretend to speak for Purple, but more often than not I find myself agreeing with what he has to say. When I see such a question posed to him I think, what's wrong with voicing an opinion that is not in line with what the company or ALPA would be putting forth? Do you have to be a "Yes, sir, yes, sir, three bags full" employee or risk being considered unworthy of being part of the group? How else do you seek improvement if everything the men behind the curtain are doing is fine with everyone even when you know it's not? I guess we could all be propagandists, but wouldn't that get old and eventually result in less for our group as a whole? Why not work to improve our position when called for by pointing out how things need improving? I don't recall anyone complaining about 6 short calls being too many....only when the number went up did you hear complaints.

I thought Delta was the end all be all, and was over joyed to get hired on. I still think it's the best place for me--great people, great leadership. But now that I've been here a while I do question some of the moves made and how DALPA doesn't always seem to put up much of a fight like I think they should. So one has to wonder why that is. That doesn't mean I appreciate the work they do and how hard they fight for the line pilot, but am I totally satisfied--no. At times I'm very disappointed. I didn't have an opportunity to see the reasons why I would think this when I applied and was hired. And as I said before I still feel with these negatives that Delta is the best place to be. So hopefully this perspective helps you understand why some of us agree with the opinions of folks like Purple D.

SailorJerry

Really if they're gonna put out planning documents calling for 2 or 3 a day, then assigning 5, even to guys with 1 day of availability, they should really just not put out the planning document. I understand calling everyone in to a bad weather day, but when it's 000/00 10SM CLR in NYC or ATL, then assigning 5 and using 0 is insulting.

forgot to bid

Dalad, someone must have spiked your drink. Talk like that sounds like organic growth could be around the corner. Crazy talk.

RonRicco

Baloney. You have proved that you really have no clue. You may not like Dalpa, but I challenge you to spend a week at a meeting, listen to the debate, go to a drafting committee, and then look somebody in the eye and repeat that statement.