sailingfun

DPA will fail because most pilots are very aware of what is involved in the coming contract and how political every aspect of the next contract is going to be. American is starting all over again because they did not have the political clout and the contacts and knowledge to get past the NMB. After looking at why they failed guess what choice they made. They are hiring ALPA.
The contract itself contrary to a post above will be negotiated by DALPA not ALPA. It will be Delta pilots who will work under the contract. They will as in the past be a 3 man pilot team backed up by professional negotiators. The success or failure of this contract will however be fought in DC behind the scenes. It will be the most political airline contract in history. DPA could not possibly put together the team and contacts needed to handle what will be required even if they had 4 or 5 years.

tsquare

As you say.. the majority is apathetic. So we are stuck with the status quo. 90% (probably) will sign anything if the gain in section 3 is big enough. Everybody knows that. But what's more important is that 12,000 yes votes are not required. 6001 is all it takes, and that virtually ensures that any crap that gets sent to us.. as long as the pay rates are good enough.. will pass. I'm gonna vote no without even reading it this time.. just on principle. I have never said or done anything like that before, but alpa has always lied to us about it being the best that we could do.. and I think it's high time to test those waters. I am not scared anymore... and you and I will never agree on this, but alpa IS expendable

tsquare

It's ALWAYS..... ALWAYS..... the most political.. most important... blah blah blah.. contract in our careers. That is no reason to accept a mediocre Association, which you seem perfectly happy with. I really admire your Pollyanna view though. I wish I shared it.

sailingfun

So you honestly believe that politics are not going to play a major role in this contract?

DAL 88 Driver

History has shown that the above statement needs to be modified a little. Here's how it should read:

"The contract that gets signed by 12,000 pilots will be what those 12,000 pilots ultimately were sold and convinced to find as an acceptable contract."

scambo1

"I'm not scared anymore."

Bravo!

I wish there were at least 9000 more that felt this way.

satchip

You must have a very low opinion of your co workers. Do you not think that we are able to make an informed decision on our own. Do you think that everyone else but you are lemmings that are easily swayed and sold by a bunch of charlatans (in your eyes)?

12,000 pilots will vote in accordance with their own self interests. Some of those interests will be in conflict with others. That's a democratic election.

DAL 88 Driver

I saw what happened when the massively concessionary TA's were brought to us just prior to and during bankruptcy. You weren't here.

Without the full-court press sales pitch and scare tactics from DALPA, I am absolutely, 100% positive those TA's would not have passed.

I don't have a "low opinion" of my co workers at all. They weren't easily swayed... but they were swayed. What I am saying is that I think these agreements should be judged on their own merit. DALPA should remain neutral or, at the very least, present both sides (pro and con).

dragon

Satch,

I got to watch the sales pitch on the JCBA, any questions were very smoothly pulled aside so as to not excite the masses. If you extrapolate that tame contract to the concessionary ones, it must have been a thing of sales beauty.

TANSTAAFL

I thought we have 4 negotiators?

DPA = Contract 2018