Proline4,
I was impressed by your response and you questions. You seem to be very well versed on this subject. I'll try to answer some of your questions---with my opinions of course.
1. Pay disparity between majors. Yes, we have a large pay disparity between AA and UA. Our 12 year 767-400 FO's make $30 more an hour than AA or UA 777 Capts. Some could say, "God Bless America" and be done with it. Delta never bought a carrier like TWA that helped drain AA, and fortunately we did not lose a plane on 9-11. We do not have the same problems as those two airlines, and we have had better liquidity than all of the majors. But, we do share a common problem---some major debt---that we will have to help fix, and that is why I still believe we will eventually give back some pay--in the range of 10-15%. But, as I have already stated, the union stated clearly that we are only a part of the solution, and huge Exec bonuses etc. will not happen when we take cuts.
2. Largest expenditure--pilots. That probably is true. We also are the only group with a union, and that means we pay monthly dues to protect ourselves. The other groups choose not to do this, and are open to pay attacks. We know that we are expensive as a group, and we were willing to give some back--but for a price. Hopefully this is all a big cycle, and things will rebound like they always do---but when that happens --can't we have back what we earned through contract negotiations? No says management---even though they continue to get huge bonuses and lots of options that make them very rich. We know this is a rough part in our industry, but what about when better times return? To say that the economy will never return or that business travellers will always buy cheap tickets is wrong. Nobody knows if that will be true---and if better times return we would like to have back what we negotiated.
3. The company has the advantage of putting furloughs back to work. Well, not really. We are trying to force them to put some back to work with grievances. We have a nO Furlough Clause that states pretty plainly that regardless of the state of the economy of profitability or UNPROFITABILITY of the airline, no furloughs. They have successfully used the war emergency clause to furlough a further 250, but since the war is over (according to Bush after he "landed" on the carrier) and the loads have returned, those 250 should return soon after we get that grievance trial going. The other 1060 will supposedly start to return when we reach pre-9-11 RPM levels. That is something that Delta has control over---but to base your business plan and return to profitability on the return of 1060 pilots is not very logical. Those 1060 pilots would not return all at once---instead in trickle form--maybe 60 a month etc. We also have been retiring quite a few lately due to the low GATT rate, which will eventually help.
4. I agree with your stance that Delta does not want any more unions, and that is the main reason they are not targeting the other employee groups. That is another reason why our airline is more efficient than other airlines---Delta can impose things on their employees that the other majors cannot due to contracts.
5. Full pay to the last day. I don't think our pilots generally think this way. We know that we are very well paid and have great jobs. We were willing to give some pay back, but with a snapback or contract extension. What is wrong with that? We didn't have to enter negotiations, but we did. We just added some reasonable limits---like an extension, not being the only ones to give, and not comparing us to the other majors that had more problems than we have. Management didn't like the "everyone should give including themselves" and said no way. Aren't we all in this together? They don't think so I guess.
6. Tokyo NRT. I thought we only had 3 MD-11s left, but it may be 4. I know that Dalpa is NOT giving in to management their request to delay the install of the 2 additional "Condos" into 2 more 777's for eventual ATL-NRT service. Those should be installed as the MD-11s are parked. I have ridden in the "upper deck" Condo in the sole 777 to Rome and I thought it was great. There are 2 first class seats with personal TVs and two bunks behind them, and this is all above the first class section of seats.
Well, I hope this helped and it will be interesting to watch where all of this goes. I want Delta to succeed and thrive, but just not off our backs exclusively.
Bye Bye--General Lee
