and getting back around to the topic of this thread...
To answer the question; Why did D_ALPA fail to grab an opportunity to return flying to mainline? Here are the answers I was told by my Reps (yes, the quotes are direct quotes):
- "Scope does not work"
- "Scope does not matter"
- The Company is not planning on growing DCI, it is not a threat
- Other items are higher priority
From the plugged in Captains that I spoke with, their logic was:
- It doesn't effect me, I'll never fly an RJ
- We would have to lower mainline pay to bring them up to our standard
There is zero political interest in restoring this flying to Delta mainline, except for a small (and growing) group of former regional pilots who want Delta flying returned to Delta.
The NWA Reps actually replied in writing and their perspective was different than Delta's. They are much more interested in preserving scope. They seemed to think the Company would want 76 seat scope relief and would come to the union asking to put Compass on the list, eventually.
Since these joint contract discussions, we have had the seniority list result which changed the 76 seat picture. The trigger for the 76 to 70 seat conversion slipped from 10% up the Delta list to around 4% on the combined list. In other words, if Delta furloughs even 4% of its pilots, the more onerous job protection provisions are in effect. ... In that case Delta Inc. will want a side agreement and then it may be the opportunity to staple Compass that NWA ALPA was talking about.
Also, we are beginning to see little skirmishes break out between DCI carriers on their respective flow through agreements. It makes sense to merge Mesaba and Comair, but the two year Mesaba Captains don't want senior Comair pilots coming over with seniority and potentially better flow position.
I've long advocated a merge and staple approach to ALPA carriers in DCI. We ALPA members have no right, or obligation, to speak on behalf of non-ALPA pilots. You are either in the club, or not.
The new Delta MEC is obviously the 1,200 lb gorilla in ALPA (for now). The former military officer perspective of this group is World's apart from the way the mostly civilian regional pilot ranks see things. Many of Delta's pilots took blisteringly harsh (50% plus) pay cut. It is tough going to work and earning less in the left seat than you earned in the right seat a decade ago. Combine this with the loss of a defined benefit pension and frankly, RJ issues take a distant back seat to pay & compensation. If you have never taken two furloughs, a bankruptcy and two rounds of pay cuts you probably do not appreciate what these pilots have been through and how it effects what they want from their union.
It is what it is. I hope that as the new Delta starts hiring like gangbusters in the future the perspectives will change - that unionism and scope will become a higher priority. Until then, expect status quo unless the
Company comes to the table and wants a merger.
Overall the Delta MEC has done an excellent job representing the combined group of pilots. Given the threats that were on the horizon the Delta MEC has provided some exceptional leadership and most of the Delta pilots realize things could have been a whole lot worse than they turned out.