Any "Latest & Greatest" about Delta?
06-28-2009, 03:15 PM
#9152
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Joined APC: Apr 2008
Position: 747-400 Captain
Posts: 12,487
Carl,
I agree with you that it would probably take a while to change ALPA and that ALPA in its present state sucks. But, I also believe that bigger is better. Unfortunately, ALPA does not use its size to do anything. They seem to only want to get bigger for the sake of getting bigger and not to ever "get" anything for its members.
If we could get some new leadership at the National and MEC levels and take politics out the mix, it would go a long way.
The main reason I say this is because of this:
AIR Conference - Airline Industrial Relations Conference
Our employers seem to have a legal way to conspire against us for every negotiation. Within this conference, they have the ablity to whip-saw major against major, commuter against commuter, LCC against LCC, and every possibe combination in between.
Because of this, I think we as pilots need the lines of communication open between all the pilot groups. It would be nice if we could have someone that could use those lines to put together an effective strategy to advance the profession.
I've go to cut is short (stuff to do), but flame away.
New K Now
I agree with you that it would probably take a while to change ALPA and that ALPA in its present state sucks. But, I also believe that bigger is better. Unfortunately, ALPA does not use its size to do anything. They seem to only want to get bigger for the sake of getting bigger and not to ever "get" anything for its members.
If we could get some new leadership at the National and MEC levels and take politics out the mix, it would go a long way.
The main reason I say this is because of this:
AIR Conference - Airline Industrial Relations Conference
Our employers seem to have a legal way to conspire against us for every negotiation. Within this conference, they have the ablity to whip-saw major against major, commuter against commuter, LCC against LCC, and every possibe combination in between.
Because of this, I think we as pilots need the lines of communication open between all the pilot groups. It would be nice if we could have someone that could use those lines to put together an effective strategy to advance the profession.
I've go to cut is short (stuff to do), but flame away.
New K Now
To me, bigness does not equate to effectiveness. I want effectiveness. I believe an in-house union would be far more effective for Delta Air Lines' pilots.
Carl
06-28-2009, 03:18 PM
#9153
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Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: Left, left, left right left....
Posts: 911
06-28-2009, 03:25 PM
#9154
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Joined APC: Apr 2008
Position: 747-400 Captain
Posts: 12,487
Carl
06-28-2009, 03:33 PM
#9155
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Joined APC: Mar 2007
Position: 88B - Loud Pipes Save Lives
Posts: 1,597
If you don't have kids and want to be close to restaurants, etc., I'd highly recommend Mud Island/Harbortown. Also, the South Bluffs are amazing. But homes there go for $400+. I lived in Mud Island for five years and wouldn't have thought of going anywhere else. You never deal with traffic and its only 15 minutes from the airport at any time of day.
06-28-2009, 03:33 PM
#9156
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Joined APC: Apr 2008
Position: 747-400 Captain
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Do you think when the 2012 contract rolls around that management will try to further relax scope provisions in our contract?
I know that sounds like a stupid question, but I wonder how high hard management will try and push to break up the 12,000 pilot strong pilot group.
Judging at their current attempt to consolidate our regional subsidiaries, I wonder if they realize that keeping the majority of flying under mainline improves the overall product?
(Note: this is not a knock against regional pilots in anyway, it is merely a correlation of how horrible regional carriers are managed, treated, and under-compensated)
Again, I know this seems like a stupid question since management has always seemed to be interested in the bottom line, but it appears that Anderson seems to be interested in improving the overall "Delta Product" and, personally, I think symmetry in the day to day operation would be the most important thing.
I know that sounds like a stupid question, but I wonder how high hard management will try and push to break up the 12,000 pilot strong pilot group.
Judging at their current attempt to consolidate our regional subsidiaries, I wonder if they realize that keeping the majority of flying under mainline improves the overall product?
(Note: this is not a knock against regional pilots in anyway, it is merely a correlation of how horrible regional carriers are managed, treated, and under-compensated)
Again, I know this seems like a stupid question since management has always seemed to be interested in the bottom line, but it appears that Anderson seems to be interested in improving the overall "Delta Product" and, personally, I think symmetry in the day to day operation would be the most important thing.
Carl
06-28-2009, 03:42 PM
#9157
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Joined APC: Mar 2007
Position: 88B - Loud Pipes Save Lives
Posts: 1,597
ACL,
They have been saying that since 9-11. I was at a road show in late September or October 2001 and was told that very thing by Fred (RJ) Reid himself. Since then this seems to come up about once every two years. Was told the same thing at the LAX LOA 19 roadshow through our union guys - XYZ airlines will not make it past ....... I am not saying that it will not happen, hell if they keep saying it, I guess eventually they will have to be correct, but I hope their business plan has more to it then relying on the competition to go belly up.
For what its worth, dying airlines are like Arnold in the first Terminator movie - every time you think they are finished the pop back to life.
Scoop
They have been saying that since 9-11. I was at a road show in late September or October 2001 and was told that very thing by Fred (RJ) Reid himself. Since then this seems to come up about once every two years. Was told the same thing at the LAX LOA 19 roadshow through our union guys - XYZ airlines will not make it past ....... I am not saying that it will not happen, hell if they keep saying it, I guess eventually they will have to be correct, but I hope their business plan has more to it then relying on the competition to go belly up.
For what its worth, dying airlines are like Arnold in the first Terminator movie - every time you think they are finished the pop back to life.
Scoop
Whatever happens, I think cabotage is around the corner (5 years at the most). There are to many jobs and cities that would be devastated by a liquidation to allow a major to simply disappear. While good perhaps for the surviving carriers, I highly doubt the powers that control this country will allow this to occur. Between the scope battle on RJs and an AF takeover, we certainly have some major league threats to consider over the next few years.
06-28-2009, 03:48 PM
#9158
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: 765-A
Posts: 6,844
No flame necessary New. I respect your opinion, I just don't agree with it. ALPA is large but (as you say) if they don't use their size for good use, what the hell good are they.
To me, bigness does not equate to effectiveness. I want effectiveness. I believe an in-house union would be far more effective for Delta Air Lines' pilots.
Carl
To me, bigness does not equate to effectiveness. I want effectiveness. I believe an in-house union would be far more effective for Delta Air Lines' pilots.
Carl
New K Now
06-28-2009, 04:04 PM
#9159
No longer cares
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: 767er Captain
Posts: 12,109
06-28-2009, 04:08 PM
#9160
No longer cares
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: 767er Captain
Posts: 12,109
The battle with the Wharton wizards is over brand control. By subcontracting your product you loose control of your brand. That should be our economic argument to recapture the subcontracted hours. It remains to be seen if this is more important to the 4th floor than the fragmentation of the pilot group. I think an offer of 25% and an increase in the DC will cause 51% of our brethren to sell 100 seat scope.
Problem is like I said somewhere else... our management has effectively erased the line that defines the mainline vs DCI product. That's jusssst the way they want it too. But what 25% are you referring to? a 25% payraise? I am afraid it won't take that much 
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