Forgive me, for I don't post much on these boards anymore...probably due to the overabundance of these types of threads, but I have only one quick question, then I'll leave the children to fight some more...we all need to have lives outside our profession, after all.
Prior to the mess Delta has created for itself, had a Comair pilot been furloughed, would that Comair pilot have been offered a job flying for Delta? With or without the option to retain his/her seniority number?
Delta's ALPA leadership had the opportunity to support integration of the Comair/ASA/Delta seniority lists. ALPA apparently supports the idea that Delta, ASA, and Comair are seperate companies. If the union these pilot groups collectively support believes that ASA pilots, Delta pilots, and Comair pilots are seperate, why should pilots from these airlines direct their frustrations towards one another. It would seem their union leadership would be a more appropriate target.
All three companies involved, as well as the ALPA believe Delta, Comair and ASA are seperate companies. When a pilot leaves a company to pursue employment at another ALPA carrier, that pilot leaves with the understanding that they resign their seniority number. You can't have your cake and eat it too.
Comair recently had a Captain whose resignation from the company was very publicly announced. The company, for some as yet unknown reason, placed that pilot back into the seniority liist. The union leadership is protesting this...supporting the basic premise that once a pilot resigns, should that pilot seek reemployment, that pilot should take their place at the bottom of the seniority list.
Sure the ASA union leadership has created some goodwill by "sucking up" to furloughed Delta pilots (who I wish the best for, though I'm sure they're all well-qualified to perform any number of jobs to support themselves and their families), but if Delta pilots believe they are not Comair pilots, or ASA pilots, why should Comair or ASA pilots believe they are Delta pilots? Those Comair and ASA pilots who tell people they fly for Delta are either doing it to avoid a long explanation of Delta's corporate structure, or they do it because the status they feel they derive from being a "Delta Pilot" balances other weaknesses in their personality.
Over the last four years, I can't recall a single Comair Captain who was hired by Delta anyway. I can't even remember hearing a single one say he/she was actively pursuing employment with Delta. All who have a desire to leave are pursuing better opportunities.
Carry on now, my union brothers. Best wishes for all of us while we're waiting for the dust to settle.
