I haven't posted on this thread, but thanks for the acknowledgment of of my super-important insight and influence!
Your welcome.
Now back off.
I have been, or haven't you noticed?
There's nothing to gain by being a Level 3 turd on this website to pilots whom, like it or not, are going to have a significant role to play in the future success (or lack of it) in your career at Delta.
Agreed. I might only add that you address them to that "fact" as well.
Treat that as a fact.
It may or may not be. Right now it is your opinion--which I solicited. While we are throwing them out, I will add one. Time is short. These games are getting tiresome to the powers that be. There are things that can happen which will change the dynamics of this transaction significantly. This is not a threat. Far from it. I will reiterate that the goal is a welcoming of the NWA pilots to the ranks of Delta and to negotiate a fair and equitable contract and seniority list. Both sides need to have this goal. Right now, only one side is honoring it. There will come a time when this side will be shut out again. Deadlines are real. I would think that lesson had been learned already.
While you're at it, here are a few more:
1. We can get this done, despite the infantile ranting of the misguided...such as the one that started this thread.
Yes
2. Both sides have a made mistakes. BOTH. When I write my after-action report on this, your rebuttal will include comments such as "Yeah, but...", and "We only did that because...". Here's a pretty good rule-of-thumb for previewing your actions before you make them: Is this going to help the process? If your answer is anything other than an unequivocal "Yes", then you're hurting yourself. If it takes you a few seconds to rationalize your actions, then you might wanna double-check your Motives gyro. It may be precessing.
Both sides have NOT made mistakes. This is what the Veritas are for. I am but a FI version of a Verita, quiet until it is time to clarify. You admit yourself the disfunction of the NWA powers that be. The wrong thing can be accepted as gospel if given enough press. The Delta MEC has been on this from the start. Every move has been expected, and appropriately countered. Screaming arbitration over and over is not going to cut it.
3. This process is unique, which makes it vulnerable to ego-driven assumptions and conclusions. It's unique because one MEC can't negotiate directly with management. They have to go through the other MEC. That has led to an element of mistrust that's normally reserved for our work with management, but has crept into the pilot-to-pilot negotiations.
This one MEC has their own management to negotiate with. The problem is that their management has nothing to negotiate. You simply cannot negotiate with Delta management. The mistrust stems from their previous experiences with themselves. Fair enough. Trust must be gained. In the meantime, the clock is ticking, oil is rising, and ALPA merger policy is looming. Grandstanding in front of congress, and releasing half-truths and outright lies are NOT means to an end.
4. A few of the individuals "in the room" are not well-suited to the task. They truck in conflict. The two MEC Chairmen, and their "inner-circle" are solid, and can get this done. Ditto the Negotiating Committees. Just as we have some posters here who just can let it slide...there are pilots involved who seem safety-wired to the "Screw those guys!" position.
Agreed. What they do not realize is that it may be their undoing in the grand scheme. It is a VERY dangerous position to be safety wired to. BTW, I have let much slide in the past few months--so has the Delta MEC. Meanwhile, the position of some is akin to poking at an unexploded land mine with a stick.
5. Perspective and priorities can't be forced. The top third of our list has an "inversion". It's not your fault, and I don't expect you to like it...but I expect you to accept it as a bona fide issue that must be addressed. Likewise, the concerns of your neo-senior (211 to 2500) are legitimate, especially in comparison to their NWA counterparts who still have a sizable frozen DB. Then there are the concerns of the bottom 25% of both groups who are hoping their issues aren't ignored by their leadership. We can't expect the other side to share our prioritization of those issues, but we can't trivialize how the other side does it.
What we CAN do, however, is look at how those types of positions have played out in recent times though. Due diligence of the informed commands such an action
6. I smell smoke. Now would be a good time to focus on getting the bucket brigade together, instead of arguing over who-jostled-who on the way over. If you feel compelled find the villain(s) responsible for this effort not being completed successfully by now, check that your Self Control switch isn't in Override, and don't miss the opportunity to keep your pie hole shut. I'll do the same, promise.
rolleyes
