DAL/NWA SLI Hearings in a nutshell

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I thought that stickers on your flight bag were not allowed. What is the current fine for that?

You'll hear "fine" a lot here in Atlanta.

"Wow, you look fine in that hat." "Man, that's some fine double breasted jackets." "Where's you get those fine Boeing stickers ..."

Now I like that APU Sheriff. Instead of having to sit and stare at an unlit "avail" light, ground power happens faster when there is someone keeping an eye on things. Creates more time for a Starbucks run before the next walk around.

 

[DTW320]

You'll hear "fine" a lot here in Atlanta.

"Wow, you look fine in that hat." "Man, that's some fine double breasted jackets." "Where's you get those fine Boeing stickers ..."

Now I like that APU Sheriff. Instead of having to sit and stare at an unlit "avail" light, ground power happens faster when there is someone keeping an eye on things. Creates more time for a Starbucks run before the next walk around.

Here's some more I'm sure you hear:

Staple the bottom 10% of the NWA list? Fine!
Put DAL probation pilots senior to NWA 2000 hires? Fine!

Read the last set of hearing transcripts of the cross-examination of the Delta pilot witness. Pay attention to the ratios within the top 1500 and how 10 years out it is about 4:1 in favor of DAL and eventually reaches 5:1 in favor of DAL.

Hilarious.

 

[PeanuckleCRJ]

Now I like that APU Sheriff. Instead of having to sit and stare at an unlit "avail" light, ground power happens faster when there is someone keeping an eye on things. Creates more time for a Starbucks run before the next walk around.

I love it as well... its rare to have to wear earplugs on a walk around.

 

[FDJ2]

The question of how DAL established their idea of the perfect list is clear except for stapling 10% of the NWA pilots. That doesnt bode with the idea of relative seniority.

It's not a relative seniority list. It integrates by comparable category and status. X number of DAL wide bodied international captains with Y number of similarly placed NWA positions, and down the list it goes. It just so happens that DAL does not have a comparable piece of equipment to the DC-9, which, if you believe NALPA, will be replaced by a 77-110 seater. Perhaps if we were still flying 737-200, but we are not.

 

[Helos2Galaxy]

Nice of the Delta guys to staple 403 Northwest pilots below the last Delta pilot hired almost a month after the merger was officially announced. It was extremely nice of the Delta pilots to place pilots hired at Northwest in early 2000 behind every single Delta pilot also. Northwest was hiring until the merger was announced. This list is extremely fair.

The reason is the NWA Compass deal. The 403 at Compass are still paid (and have lower career expectation) than a DAL M-88 F/O. You allowed Compass on YOUR prorerty. Imagine how many (403) pilots would be furloughed while Compass flying is flown by Pinnacle, et al.

 

[Sedona16]

Delta: 111 widebody Aircraft
NWA: 61 Widebody Aircraft

Add in career expectations/pay on widebodies and its not hard to see why DOH or anything close to it is not fair. In fact a 2007 new hire would hit a widebody captain slot way before the bottom 1000 guys at NWA would if these companies were to remain separate. This is called career expectations. Btw, NWA has very few 747's and the 200's are on their way out.

 

[JoeMerchant]

The DC-9 First Officer position is on the bottom of the list for the same reason the NWA MEC argues the 747 Captain position should be at the top. Size, range and pay.

The DC-9 is not only the oldest airframe, it's the smallest airframe, with the shortest range and the smallest pay check. It's replacement aircracft, according to NALPA, the 77-110 seater, pays even less.

The value of a DC-9 F/O position is less than a 747, less than a 757, less than a A320 and less than a MD88/90. It is therefore ranked accordingly on the DALPA proposal. It is the most junior position at NWA and it will be the most junior position at DAL.

It was a huge mistake to make "size" of aircraft part of the pay scale...The European system of seat and longevity would solve much of our infighting.....That won't happen....So continue comparing "size" and fighting amongst yourselves......

Funny thing is the DC9 folks have the hardest job of all....No magic black box to tell you where to go....

 

[Truckdriver]

I just don't understand why everyone cannot agree that a DC-9 position is not the same position as an MD88/90 position. If Delta had a fleet of DC-9's then there wouldn't be so many NWA folks on the bottom of our proposal. Since you have the smallest and lowest paying airplane wouldn't you expect to have more of the lowest paying positions on the integrated list? It doesn't matter if you keep them until 2060, they are still not the same category as the MD88/90 and shoulndn't be integrated as such any more than the 757 guys should be integrated with the 747/400 and 777 guys. If it is going to be a category and class integration then the DALPA proposal seems fair. The only other options are a straight relative seniority and DOH both of which could work with the right restrictions put in place. It doesn't matter what anyone at NWA and DAL think at this point, it matters what Mr. Bloch and his crew think which we'll find out on Nov 21st. Even he said his decision will kinda suck for everyone so we should all be ready to suck it up and move on in about a month or so.

 

[JoeMerchant]

I just don't understand why everyone cannot agree that a DC-9 position is not the same position as an MD88/90 position.

Your right....The DC9 guy works harder...No FMS...

It's not the same "position" if you look at what is behind the cockpit....They are all the same "position" if you look forward from the cockpit....

 

[Truckdriver]

Your right....The DC9 guy works harder...No FMS...

It's not the same "position" if you look at what is behind the cockpit....They are all the same "position" if you look forward from the cockpit....

So with that opinion you should be glad you have the NWA guys on your side fighting for DOH or something closer to straight relative seniority. In the end it doesn't matter what you, I, or any other NWA or DAL employee think. Mr. Bloch and his crew will make the decision in a month and he said, "the result will be a virtual guarantee that the overwhelming bulk of the pilots will be adversely affected from the seniority standpoint." With that quote, it isn't hard to imagine that he could award what DALPA has proposed or he could award a DOH integration. We'll see in a month. Until then, we should all get ready to suck it up and move on because the majority of us would have been happier seniority and career expectation wise if this merger never would have happned.