Tim,
I read the article too and I thought it was a lot of propoganda. Sure, we are not in the best shape, but to expect only the pilots to give, while able to extract more concessions from the other groups without contracts is wrong. I think the whole board of directors would be sued for lack of fiduciary responsibility by EVERY stock holder----if they chose to take that route and rendering their stock almost worthless. They could easily get help right now--immediately---and the stock holders know that. They could also sell off ASA/Comair and still have 10 year agreements made with them--but have the extra cash. If they did not make these adjustments---I am sure there would be lawsuits filed. The real deal here is that Grinstein is "Going for it all." I wonder what the stock holders think about that? I am a stock holder, and I personally think it is stupid---but I am biased.
Bye Bye--General Lee
PS---Here is what our Dalpa MEC Chair has given us--and I believe him:
April 2, 2004
Dear Fellow Pilot:
In this year’s annual report letter to shareholders, Delta management discusses the “permanently altered marketplace” and points to pilot costs as the main reason for Delta’s poor competitive position among the other network carriers. The fact remains that your union identified a legitimate need for contractual relief almost a year ago and has been attempting to negotiate with management ever since. Our relief package includes waiving the May 1 pay raise along with many other adjustments to reduce pilot costs. We are waiting to receive updated financial information from the company, which the CEO has promised will be forthcoming in the near term. As of this date, management has rebuffed our request to audit the pilots’ pension plan; I will continue to pursue this matter. While the offer to help the company still stands, let’s review the assistance the Delta pilots have already provided since our contract took effect in June 2001.
Consider the following, which ALPA granted without receiving any thing in return:
· Immediately following September 11, the union agreed to waive many contractual provisions, including the bow wave, over-projection, overtime and bank provisions. This allowed Delta to rebuild the airline cost effectively and resume operations expeditiously and smoothly.
· ALPA agreed to delay retrofitting of the contractually required B-777 rest facility, which saved the company tens of millions of dollars.
· ALPA negotiated a SIL agreement with management that allowed Delta to better manage the training pipeline and category staffing, saving millions of dollars, which was beneficial to both parties.
· The union agreed to new CRAF and MAC side letters, which permitted Delta to maximize its share of this lucrative flying, generating many millions of dollars in revenue.
· ALPA waived provisions of the Scope Clause, the bedrock of our contract, to allow Delta to move forward on potential revenue-generating initiatives. These include:
Approved the DAL/NWA/CAL code-share arrangement, which Delta estimates will enhance revenues by $250 million annually.
Approved contractual branding flexibility that permitted management to operate Song as an “airline within an airline” and compete with low cost carriers.
In Contracts 1990, 1996 and 2001, we provided scope flexibility that allowed Delta to adapt quickly to the changes in the revenue environment with the use of small jets, while other airlines were forced to address the RJ issue in crisis bargaining. It is also important to remember that we are operating with 18 percent fewer pilots since September 11, with 1,060 pilots on furlough and hundreds more retired and not replaced.
Finally, as referenced above, the union agreed to enter into mid-contract talks and offered hundreds of millions of dollars in cost reductions, including our May 1, 2004, pay raise. Rather than negotiate, management has continued with its “all or nothing” approach. Even so, your union has kept the door open for continued discussions. We are ready and willing to do our part, as we have demonstrated repeatedly since Contract 2001 was signed.
We are only one side of the negotiating equation. For this time-proven process to work, management must become equally engaged and willing to find a solution that is right for Delta.
First of all, I am NOT saying that Deltas financial problems are because of high pilot pay. In my opinion, I blame your former head clown (Mullin) and his cronies that put you in this position! 
