Originally Posted by index

You never thought you'd lose your pension either, age 65, 700 DCI a/c, multiple JVs, etc...

The article is just proof of what will be a growing sentiment for "change." I reached my conclusion well before reading the article. Ask your average passenger if they would like more competition if it resulted in lower airfares.

Capacity restraint is driving airfares higher (which is a good thing) but the public--the politicians' constituents--eventually are going to demand cabotage. Most don't know the meaning of the term, but make no mistake--the majority will be for it for the promise of lower airfares.

Who/what is going to stop Emirates, Ethiad, and others from flying point to point in the U.S.? If $ talks---and it does---who is going to win the money battle, ALPA PAC or the guys sitting on top of billions of barrels of oil?

Originally Posted by Bucking Bar

The majors have their own PAC, Airlines For America (A4A). Sometimes we are aligned with their interests.

in my humble opinion, allowing foriegn an ownership of a strategic asset indicates the United States is no longer a superpower.

Originally Posted by tsquare

Football transcends politics or airline affiliation. The only thing you could possibly say that would offend me would be "Go gaytors". I would hunt you down and make sure you never got hired here. I'm sure that at some point we will play down there in College Station. I am looking forward to a small stadium venue.

Originally Posted by DAWGS

Great point and sums up why I can't understand the association signing off on this vague language. I have flown with enough pilots who are sick and try to fool everyone, including themselves, unsuccessfully. I don't just mean physically sick. How many guys fly while they are preoccupied with a dying parent, sick child, divorce, financial problems etc...? Those pilots are not mentally fit and have a legitimate psychological reason to avoid the cockpit. These mental situations are much more of a threat in my experience than mild physical ailments which may be easy to "verify." This policy change will only exacerbate the problem of flying while sick, especially the most dangerous that can't be "verified." I would argue the definition of sick be expanded and more emphasis be placed on calling in sick by our association.

I am aware that the company may or may not have viewed some of these circumstances as "sick" even prior to this contract. However, this action of "verification" will push more pilots to the cockpit, whereas prior to C2012, better judgement would have prevailed. IMO, this makes the operation less safe, which runs counter to the primary mission statement of our association.

A phone call by itself is punitive. It says "I don't trust you." You should not have your integrity challenged for calling in sick. This policy has not been thought through on either side of the table and should be changed asap.

Originally Posted by Elvis90

Even if every US airline is bought by foreign companies (which won't happen) pilot wages will go up via supply & demand.

Originally Posted by SFWB

Tsquare, I've moved up to Tennessee since Delta closed Memphis. I still wear my Gator hat every where but to church. I still chomp chomp. And those that don't like it, I just tell 'em "Jesus loves you."

Originally Posted by johnso29

Utilize the resources your union gives you.

Originally Posted by index

We've been hearing about a "looming pilot shortage" for 20+ years. It hasn't materialized yet. If it ever does, there are PLENTY of ways to deal with it. While you'd like management's answer to be higher pay (and so would I), that's just pure fantasy.

There are many ways to reduce demand for new pilots. Mergers, JVs, foreign ownership, cabotage, productivity, changes (or elimination entirely) of the retirement age, changes in FARs, and so on. It's already happened and will continue to happen even more.

As to the supply side, at last check we share the planet with over 7 BILLION other folks. I'm sure enough can be found to fill the coming "pilot shortage."

If you are tying your hopes and dreams of a larger paycheck on supply/demand, you are going to be very disappointed.

DAL reported over $1B in profits last year and is projected to be even more profitable this year. All the while we're still paid LESS $ than rates negotiated a DECADE ago!