General Lee said:
During the strike at Comair, Delta and DALPA were nothing but supportive to Comair. We paid money (along with other ALPA carriers) and we told management that we would not fly Comair's struck work. I personally flew for a regional, and I wanted Comair to get better wages and work rules. But, in the end, Delta lost $250 million, and they outlasted the Comair pilots. That was the way it was. We did not do anything to deserve the treatment our furloughs are getting right now. In a time of NEED, just like when the Comair pilots NEEDED money and support, our furloughs are now pawns in a Comair vs Delta MEC game, and the big losers are the furloughs. The Comair MEC wants unlimited 70 seaters and the ability to fly 90 seaters, which would result in us at Mainline probably losing our 737-200's and losing many more jobs. Keeping "big jets" on the property ensures that more people will eventually benefit from our better contract, and move up to Delta. We didn't blink when the Comair pilot's needed help, and now they are not just "blinking", but closing their eyes to this problem.
Bottomline....Comair seems to be a great regional to fly for, with nice planes and an opportunity to see different places on both coasts. But, if you ever want to go on to Delta from Comair---there may be a big obstacle in your way-----The Comair MEC's ego. Most Captains I fly with have the same attitude towards this, "Well, we won't hire them..." Keep that in mind when you decide.
Bye Bye---General Lee
General,
I guess someone has to point out that your views on some of these issues are slanted in favor of your own perspectives, so it might as well be me.
1. Yes, you paid the assessment -- as did all ALPA pilots. Thanks.
Notably, you are also the ONLY ALPA pilots that continuously remind us that you met your obligations, not to Comair pilots, but to the union. For those constant "reminders" --- no thanks.
2. True, you did not fly struck work. Now spare me the effort of trying to indicate that you did Comair pilots a "favor" by not making yourselves Scabs.
You did us no favor. You merely did what every other union pilot did and does, i.e., you didn't make yourselves scabs. Bravo.
3. Delta did not lose $250 millions. According to Delta's annual report, Delta lost in excess of $680 millions (over 90 days) during the CMR strike.
Many would argue that was an extremely stupid manuever on the part of management, especially since it would have cost about $50 millions (over 5 years), above the costs of the new contract, to give CMR pilots everything they were asking. Others, like me, wont argue -- they'll just say "a fool and his money soon part." But yes, they did outlast us in their folly.
4. Your (Delta) furloughees aren't getting any "treatment" from the Comair MEC or from Comair pilots. Our Company doesn't hire pilots with dual seniority numbers. That is not a policy set by the Comair MEC. It is set by management.
As for the "treatment" your MEC got from our MEC, it is far less onerous than the "treatment" we have enjoyed for years. Your DMEC has acted against the best interests of Comair pilots repeatedly for nearly a decade.
Yes, we want more 70-seaters. We had unlimited 70-seaters before your MEC first attempted to take them all away and failing to succeed, eventually managed to limit the number to half of what we intended to buy and then on top of that, divided them between all of DCI contractors. A predatory manuever detrimental to the careers of every Comair pilot.
Your MEC further sought to restrict and limit all of our flying in 50-seaters and overall. Only circumstances beyond your MEC's control prevented that from happening. Another move by the DMEC that is detrimental to the careers of every Comair pilot.
Your MEC, with regard to your furloughees, made a clearly political request of our MEC, coupled with a threat of retaliation if we did not agree to its wishes. Your "request" included and "offer" that your MEC can't deliver. Additionally, your MEC made it clear that its bogus "offer" of preferential hiring was subject to "super preferential" hiring of military pilots that do not work for ANY airline. People like me, and other Comair pilots that have been around long enough to know the truth, are more than greatful that the CMR MEC represented the interests of Comair pilots and rejected the political BS coming from the DMEC.
That your furloughees got no benefit is NOT the fault of the CMR MEC, it is the fault of the Delta MEC. When the DMEC gets off its high horse, stops trying to limit our careers and starts to recognize that it cannot dictate to Comair pilots, we'll make progress.
We have made NO effort to take your "big" airplanes. We have not demanded anything from you nor have we asked you for any favors. We have made no claim to 90-seaters, that's up to the Company. You don't have any 90-seaters and neither do we. We also had none on order before we were acquired by Delta. If the Company buys 90-seaters and gives them to you we won't cry. If they give them to us, we will fly them.
Your MEC has consistently attempted to use Comair and other Delta subsidiaries as bargaining chips in your negotiations. A behavior that most of us despise. Many of you have stated that you will try again to take our 70-seaters, just as you did before. If there is a predator in this "game" (your word), it is the Delta MEC and ALPA, not the CMR MEC. Your MEC came to the table making threats and even now, you continue to make future "threats" that you will attempt to obstruct the future hiring of CMR pilots at Delta. With "friends" like the DMEC, who needs enemies?
I'm sorry your pilots are furloughed and would really like to help. Comair pilots haven't "closed their eyes" to anything. On the contrary, our eyes are wide open --- we see the Delta MEC for what it is -- a predator stalking Comair pilots as potential victims. No more, no less. Like our MEC told your MEC, the door is open.
When your MEC has something credible to say, I'm sure our MEC is more than willing to listen. Until then, this pilot thinks your MEC can pack sand.
I've noticed that many of you have said that you think Comair pilots should recall our MEC. This Comair pilot thinks you should recall the DMEC. Then we might get somewhere.
Bottom line .... Comair IS a great place to work and the pilot group is super. We welcome all comers from any source as long as they want to be Comair pilots. The industry as a whole is in deep trouble and we can't predict the future. Today Comair is doing OK, but tomorrow that may be different. Hopefully it will continue to get better, but there is no guarantee. We can only hope for the best and do our best to keep our Company successful.
We hope that Delta pilots will also expereince success and that those on furlough will soon be able to return to their airline. We hope too that in the future, we will be able to work together in harmony. Meanwhile, some of us will continue to call a spade, a spade.
Don't take this personal, for it isn't. I don't know any Comair pilot that has anything against the Delta line pilot. We would like to call you "friend". We just aren't willing to call you Dad. You'll have to get used to that.
