As a formally furloughed Delta pilot, I am against hiring Comair pilots for the simple reason of their policy of resignation before they would hire us while furloughed.
Let's be honest, most furloughees were not going to give up thier recall rights to fly for Comair. Most of us either did the military or commuter thing and we were lucky, and skillful, to get the job at DAL. To demand resignation would be similar in asking a major league baseball player to give up any rights to return to the majors to go play at some AAA team while on injured reserve. My time at the commuters, and at another major before Delta were spent with 100% perception that these companies were stepping stone jobs to get to one of the "Big Three" airlines--that was my, and most of the furloughees, goals and career aspirations. To require giving this achievement up to step back was unrealistic and unrequired by Comair and the Comair Union.
I understand ASA also had a similar requirement in place when the furloughs commenced at Delta; the MEC and pilot group realized this and worked with their management to change the policy to help us. Comair pilots did not change until (1) Delta was recalling furloughed pilots and was, at the time, required to return all Delta furloughees under a set schedule; (2) Letter 46 was signed at Delta, in which Comair and others could recieve 76 seat aircraft in exchange for hiring furlougees without resignation. Only then was Comair willing to change their policy--not to help out the furloughees, but to caputre the 76 seat flying.
The argument posed by Comair pilots is, "the senior Comair pilots made the decisions. I was junior and didn't have a say." doesn't work. The Union represents the pilots and works on behalf of the pilot group, NOT the other way around. Every Comair pilot has a say, and the majority at Comair still rules, not the Totalitarian leadership that many Comair pilots now claim is in place.
I was lucky. I found a secure job outside of aviation making good money, home every night, and have developed a skill set transferrable to any mid- or large-scale company. I now have a viable "backup" plan should the industry go into the crapper. That being said, I still disagree with the Comair pilots on their treatment of us, and I believe my opion is in majority of all Delta pilots--both furloughed and those that weren't.
Did I support Comair during their strike? I paid dues, and at the request of my LEC sat at my local airport (RDU) on my days off making sure that none of the Comair scheduled flying was being done by other feeders, i.e. flying struck work. Yet during my and my fellow pilots time of need, no reciprication was given.
A long term view from the Comair pilots group could have helped them now, when Delta is poised to hire 200 this year and 400+ next year.