Originally posted by miller22
Unions epitomize extortion! Thats how they survive. "Give us what we want or we'll quit working en masse." Threats are what fill the coffers. Its the way its always been, and probably always will. Everybody for the common good of the union. Thats the reality of the labor market.
Besides, scope for you may be good, but scope for regional drivers is bad. Of course Comair wants to grow. Thats not extortion, thats job security. There's two sides to every story, and scope is a perfect example. In fact it seems to me DALPA is extorting Delta into writing scope clauses. "Sign your name to this here scope clause, Mullin, and we'll offer our 'protection' from a Delta pilot strike." Or how about the fact that no Comair pilot has a choice whether or not to pay union dues. The very same union dues that go towards ALPA negotiators creating scope clauses to stunt your company's growth. You call it job security, I call it extortion. You call "scope relief" extortion, I call it job security. Fine Line.
You are talking UNION vs Management, not Union vs. Union. What your MEC is doing is Union vs. Union and that IMO is dead wrong. Yes, of course Comair wants to grow. However, you are wholly-owned by Delta and serve as DELTA CONNECTION carrier, not as Delta Air Lines. Your growth depends on Delta's decisions and labor agreements in place. Just a part of being wholly-owned. I worked under those rules. While I agree with the need to have job security at a regional, the mainline pilots have the same right. Yet, at the same time, since mainline has a substantially better contract, work rules, retirement, and so forth than any DCI carrier, it would behoove the management to shift as much flying as it can to DCI. That's where MAINLINE job protection comes in. Mainline pilots are entitled to job protection as well, and since they are the majority, you have a scope clause in effect to protect them. I agree that Comair wants to grow as well as its pilots. That's why scope should be high in your agenda.
CHQ replaced Comair aircraft who were moved to DCA and LGA to replace Delta and ACA aircraft. So instead of 25% full CRJ's out of MCO, there are 80% full CRJ's out of LGA, JFK, DCA and BOS. Not to mention the business traveller's money in that market. Delta as a whole could make tons more money by using their own hard to come by CRJ's on the high yield markets of the northeast, than in the low fare, short stage length Florida markets. And instead of pulling out of Florida alltogether, CHQ is flying the intra-Florida routes to fill mainline seats. Its all a matter of a finite number of RJ's owned, and where to dispatch those aircraft to maximize profit. Besides, CHQ pilots aren't out to stop Comair from growing. DALPA on the other hand...
Interesting and apologetic attitude... would you agree that perhaps if you had a strong scope in place to protect your jobs, you'd have CMR flying out of MCO, plus LGA, JFK, DCA and BOS? In other words, WO's do all the DCI work for the mainline. Talk about wanting to expand, and job security. Not to mention more airplanes, fast upgrades, and so forth. DALPA is not your enemy, it's the management whip-saw. I'd say a good scope clause is in order for you too against the likes of CHQ, SkyWest, etc.
Unions survive on emotion, not business sense. No other organization (excluding mud-slinging politics) disrespects their opponents this way. Its blatently unprofessional and "a discrace to our profession" if I may use your words. Unions don't exist without an enemy, and when there isn't a clear enemy, they create one. Comair makes a convenient target for ALPA so you start hearing things like "RJDC wants all Delta pilots families to starve," and "The Shameless RJDC." (Actual topics from ALPA message board)
I partially agree with you here. A strong union will work with the management to keep the airline profitable and do what it takes to protect its members. Use UAL ALPA as an example, and compare it say to UAL IAM.
Second part to this paragraph, there is no reason for Comair to be a target of ALPA. I've seen those topics and most are pure frustrations by the furloughed crowd. However, the reality is that Comair is hiring while Delta is furloughing. Yet, the lawsuit alleges that Comair pilots' jobs are threatened with Delta pilots' scope. Talk about a spit in the face of Delta furloughees.
I do believe it was the Delta pilots crying foul because they got furloughed and Comair is still hiring. "Not fair!" "We own Comair. We should be flying those planes" "Not Fair!" Fortunately DALPA doesn't own Comair, Delta does. If DALPA wants to demand Comair hire them or they'll go on strike, then it'll probably happen. But isn't that extortion? [/QUOTE]
Interesting thing is NWA and Pinnacle. Check out their agreement regarding furloughees. Sure, the furloughed NWA pilots won't be working under the same rules and conditions as they did before furlough, but they have a job flying as NWA Airlink pilots. Personally, I think that is classy of Pinnacle and their pilot group, and it will benefit them in the long run. It's too bad CMR MEC had a different agenda...
