Delta Pilots Lose Arbitration Ruling

[Wasatch CFI]

The Wall Street Journal reported today that Delta pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), lost an arbitration proceeding that challenged Delta’s furloughing of hundreds of pilots following the Sept. 11 terror attacks, despite a no-furlough clause in their labor contract.

The decision is the first ruling to be rendered over an airline’s use of so-called force majeure provisions in labor contracts post Sept. 11, and may shape the outcome of similar proceedings at other carriers.

Force majeure provisions allow an airline to bypass usual contractual protections in the event of circumstances beyond its control. Defining what constitutes such circumstances was the crux of the ALPA-Delta discord.

Delta maintained that the terror attacks constituted a compelling example of "circumstances beyond the company’s control," thus justifying reducing flight operations and furloughing pilots. However, ALPA argued that the provision allows the company to break the contract strictly because of an inability to operate. The union maintains that the pilot furloughs are voluntary acts by Delta, driven by the state of the economy and the carrier’s financial state.

 

[Gumby]

ALPA

If you stand around long enough, I'm sure ALPA will do something good with all those millions they rake in each year from you're dues!!!

 

[VelcroJetDriver]

Gumby:

If you don't consider the following things to be good, then quit ALPA:

1) Safety awareness on the local and national level in the form of safety committees and recommendations that virtually every industrial and governmental aviation agency takes seriously.

2) Protecting the line pilot from management's whims and FAA enforcement action through legal advice and representation.

3) Political influence in Washington. Ever wonder why we don't have cockpit video cameras yet? You have only one organization to thank! Just read the op-ed in last weeks USA Today to find out what the media would like to do with CVRs. ALPA is a necessary counter-measure to the ATA's influence in Washington. (The ATA is currently trying to rewrite rest/duty limitations in THEIR favor = unlimited duty day!)

4) Free medical advice concerning your FAA certificate.

5) Enforcing your hard-won contract as best they can considering most major airlines are bleeding millions of dollars a day.

Tired of typing

 

[B1900DFO]

VelcroJetDriver

Well Said!

 

[Gumby]

ALPA

Ohhh, Hey..Ouch...Mommy says stop it!! Sorry to dissapoint you new kids in the business, but I'm proudly NOT a member....

 

[trainerjet]

I proudly have been a member for 15 years, and believe me, we don't miss Gumby, or his money, or his 6th grade education.

 

[Gumby]

ALLLPA

Ok, you guys win, they're the greatest...I sorry....

 

[F/O]

ALPA makes this job better...

ALPA is the reason I had a full size limo driving me to the hotel during my first trip at the majors instead of the ratty and marginally unsafe hotel vans that were the norm in my previous airline life.

Just one example of many.....

 

[ALCOHOLIC]

Well Gumby you have one supporter. I have been with two different airlines alpa screwed. Mark my words if you do not work for UA or DAL you will see how bad alpo sucks sooner or latter.

Repeat after me........... ALPA SUCKSSSSSSSSS.

 

[ALCOHOLIC]

Gumby:

4) Free medical advice concerning your FAA certificate.

Dont worry you pay for it...

 

[Gumby]

ALPO

Thanks ALCO...Thanks for the support, I knew it wouldnt take to long to get someone on my side, wether or not you came by limo or not. I wonder if you have to tip a limo driver more, than a van driver. I'll check the by-laws....I came close to being a "dues paying" customer, but the furlough took care of that...

 

[VelcroJetDriver]

Please give an example of how ALPA "screwed your airline."

 

[F/O]

I came close to being a "dues paying" customer, but the furlough took care of that...

Gumby

Yah, I figured as much. Just a case of sour grapes. Well, if you make it to the majors when things turn around you will see it's really a pretty good gig. And the difference between a job at the majors and a typical work-like-a-dog-wage-slave flying job is a good contract. After all, we're still just blue collar labor....

PS I'm not sure the booze in the limo is free though, I'm gonna suggest that ALPA get that in the next contract...

 

[rjcap]

F/O

A limo huh ?

Well ALPA will take care of you while your on the street. Maybe you will get lucky and get a deal like USAIR where you can come back and fly an RJ at regional pay rates and rules.

The big unknown is exactly how long Potomac Air will operate staffed by furloughed mainliners. Seems to me if the company likes the revenue from that operation why would they ever bring back the furloughed pilots to mainline ?

I have a feeling the furloughed pilots going to Potomac Air will be there for quite some time. Management isn't doing this to make people happy, there doing it for profitability.

Thats all I have. I dont' even want to get into a pissing match about ALPA. there actions speak louder then any words possibly could !

 

[F/O]

Enough already the limo thing was tongue in cheek....

More seriously, though, yes I am out on the street. And I'm not planning on ALPA doing anything to change that. I never did. If anyone thought the "no furlough" clause was worth anything to begin with then they were sadly mistaken. At least they are paying my COBRA costs every month. Hell, that's alone worth the dues I paid.

I'm not pissed at ALPA because I got furloughed. This is a little hiccup in the course of my career. When things get back to normal (whatever that is) I will still have close to 30 more years to pay ALPA dues. So the important thing to me is that we continue to have a contract that makes the airline a good place to be for a while.

The thing about ALPA, however, is that they are going to fight for the interests of the pilot groups that pay the most in dues. If you are at a major ALPA is a good deal. If you are at one of the regional affiliates then you will always get screwed. The examples are many, i.e. Delta and Comair, USAir and its wholly owned carriers. There will be more examples in the future. When it comes to issues like seniority, career security, etc the regional pilots will lose. I've been there and it's a crappy deal. Maybe the time has come for a dedicated regional airline pilot's union, I know there has been some talk of that. Right now there's not much to do about it except try to move on with your career if you so desire. And that won't be easy until the majors start hiring again.

 

[Gumby]

ALPA

F/O,
Nope no sours grapes at all..just having fun messing with ya.....