Bucking Bar

Carl,

you bring up an interesting point which needs to be discussed and understood.

The Delta MEC is effectively ALPA National

The DPA is doing nothing by wasting it's members' money and time by fundamentally misunderstanding the way ALPA's power is administered. The conflict isn't external, the conflict is internal. Your targeting is off by about 640 miles.

So, if you want to blow up ALPA to effect local political change ... that would make sense. But it makes more sense just to support the LEC Reps that best represent your positions.

TheManager

Now, if DALPA would adopt a version of this as their mission statement and follow it, there would be no rival representation challenges. Perhaps this:

It's just business.

Our business is to aviate safely and efficiently, around the globe in challenging environments every day, delivering Delta's revenue driving passengers and cargo.

We will be a fixed cost that is compensated fairly and proportionately in regards to generated revenue.

We will not allow our fixed cost to be manipulated in any shape or form to effect profit or loss.

TheManager

What strategy has DALPA used?

Settling for small bites and selling fear and TVM is not a strategy that gains more and fair compensation from the company.

Instead, it is a strategy to coerce the pilots to vote in favor of a TA.

Study your history. Ask an Alaska guy about one ping and one ping only.

johnso29

It's funny you say that. SWAPA has constantly been a example used of where we need to be. Yet no one wants to acknowledge how they got there.


Answer me this. Who obtained contracts before Delta obtained C2K? Because Delta pilots didn't get C2K all by themselves. What's amazing is that 37% of Delta pilot's voted NO for C2K. When will it be good enough?

And who has surpassed Delta pilot's current earnings?

Bucking Bar

+ 1 .

tsquare

Add to that the fact that way back in the day - well before bankruptcy - when I was plumbing on a 727, I remember SWA signing a lengthy contract (if memory serves well, it was 10 years) with an annual pay increase of ~3% or so. The rest of the pilot groups were incredulous at that because we could expect HUGE raises every year... You are right, the SWA guys are the ultimate in constructive engagement tacticians, yet that FACT is continually left out of the argument... only the results of that are acknowledged, and even then only because those results are cherry picked to suit the argument. So for starters, I wouldn't trade our 14% CONTRIBUTION for their 9% MATCH.. why is THAT never used in the arguments about how far 'behind' we are in compensation?

It will never be good enough because no matter how much we make, there will be a percentage that will live hand to mouth. I have seen that for over 20 years now. When I was a pup I was amazed at captains pulling down over $100k/year that would count pennies for the van driver tip (DAL used to reimburse us for tips) For whatever reasons, there will always be a percentage to which that applies. Second standard deviation I believe. There will also be those on the other end of the bell curve that could afford to take a pay cut and not be affected. It is the middle part of the curve that needs to be satisfied. Even Obama figured that out.....

I truly believe the problem going forward is that nobody has raised the bar with any meaningful advances. We have to pattern bargain off of ourselves. But the doughnuts believe this is not a factor, and will simply get management and the shareholders to ignore that because of our past history. If they ever man up and call for a vote.. and if they win, it would be comical if it weren't so sad to watch reality set in and career stagnation to once again rear it's head.

But then, guys like Carl have it all figured out.

I'm guessing the Bahamas is where you'll find him since he has a 6 figure retirement coming....

tsquare

You are right about this.. (in red) except that is only one part of the equation. TVM has already put a lot more money in my bank accounts. You want to think like an hourly employee for the rest of your life. You will keep saying no, and praying for that home run, rather than locking in gains that you can put to work immediately. You will never invest, never save and will end up worrying about whether or not your Social Security check will be big enough. I am going to go to the BVI and clip coupons when I quit flying.....

Methinks it is you that needs a history lesson.

scambo1

T;
If you are going to use examples of retirement that sounds good, please at least use a good example. To me that sounds like you look forward to buying a polyester jumpsuit out of the Lillian Vernon catalog.

Free Bird

Note to self: Look to DALPA for model of unity.

I understand if others are anti DPA, but I think that at least the DPA team is rowing in the same direction. DALPA is obviously struggling with what direction to go right now.

tsquare

Not THOSE kind of coupons my friend.... and I rethought it too.. the BVI would be much nicer. easier sailing there from what I hear.