Denny Crane

Bar,

I'm 99.9999% sure this contract will NOT be "cost neutral." That being said, it sure looks like they are trying to make it a "staffing neutral" contract.

Denny

DALFA

Delta Air Announces $2 Billion Investment Plans For Ghana etc | OMG! Ghana

"Delta Air Lines, a U.S. global airline has announced that it will spend $2 billion on its facilities across the globe. The company hopes to develop a Global Position Satellite (GPS) in Liberian airspace, launch energy and mining desks, deepens partnership with Air Nigeria, Kenya Air and consolidates its footprint in Africa."

80ktsClamp

Yeah... about that:

Carl Spackler

That's code acl. Here's how to decipher your code: This TA will have an allowance for more 76 seat jets being flown without Delta pilots...100% guaranteed. Possibly even larger than 76 seaters. The MEC bureaucracy knows how unpopular that will be with our reps and the line pilots. So it has to be spun by using the term "out of the box and unconventional thinking" for getting pilots to buy off on the concept of fixing other areas in our scope language by gutting other areas. You are complicit in this attempted shell game.

There is nothing "unconventional" or "out of the box" by somehow justifying why even 1 more 76 seat jet should be allowed to be manned by a non-Delta pilot. Escpecially given the fact that RLA rules make it almost impossible to ever get a scope cave-in back once you've given it away. Unlike other areas of the contract that can be re-fought next time, there's ample evidence to show that scope can NEVER be reversed once given away. This type of justification is entirely conventional thinking and has been occuring long before you got here. It's EXACTLY how we got to where we are now. Do NOT fall for it.

Carl

acl65pilot

Carl, it has nothing to do with the TA. It will be whatever will be, and I have no solid info on what the final product will be. I am talking about what happens after this TA. That and the success of Dal will determine restoration in the next round.

I said two two years ago that restoration would take two cycles, it will take Dal remaining in a sizable lead in this industry for that to be a possibility.

I am not convinced that more rj's will pass, the devil is in the details. Heck I am not even sure this will get out of the MEC, rj's or not. There is a bigger picture and no line pilot including myself has it 100% nailed down.

Professor

I agree with that. If three year deal or so is in the works, I like that. It's a step in the right direction. Plus I rather renegotiate this when business is absolutely booming.

More 76 seaters. Not so much a fan.

But if the rumors of percentages I've heard are correct. We might be ok this round.

Just sayin'

acl65pilot

Agreed. The three year deal rumor has been surfacing a lot. I have wanted a three year deal this round for a few years. It makes sense as long as the next round is not drawn out.

Bucking Bar

I will remind you of this post and compare it to Bastian's and Anderson's comments when they brief investors.

Thus far the agreement makes pilots more productive and reduces the need for staffing. That saves the Company money. We are just moving money from one part of the contract to another

acl65pilot

Leave scope out of it for a bit. Those changes will stand on their own and will not pay for gains in the rest of the PWA. Many of the savings changes will equate to huge costs/gains down the road.

Wrt to the work rules, thus far there is no way the changes we have seen will even pay for half of the increases. I would state that right now we are looking at about 40-45 million a year in crew savings. That is nowhere near close to what we will see in dc, other work rule, and hourly increases.

I have a bet on the valuation of this agreement. Since we are still in talks I will keep it to myself.

Carl Spackler

That's fine, but I'd like to talk about THIS round of negotiations and THIS TA.

I appreciate that no one can have the bigger picture 100% nailed down. But I'm asking a very specific question of you. And it is: If this TA comes out with substantial gains in all areas, but allows Delta to fly MORE 76 seat jets without Delta pilots, will you vote YES or NO?

Carl