Delta, pilots sign deal on early ret.

[Dennis Miller]

Thursday May 13, 8:19 pm ET


WASHINGTON, May 13 (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines and its pilots union signed an agreement on Thursday that should ensure enough active pilots to maintain the carrier's schedule this summer, the airline said.

The agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association , prompted by the potential number of upcoming early retirements, gives Delta flexibility to keep pilots available when needed.

"We were monitoring pilot early retirements and just decided it was a good thing to discuss with ALPA," Delta spokesman John Kennedy said.

"We reached an agreement that gives us confidence that we don't feel there should be any (schedule) impact or disruptions for our customers," Kennedy added.

A Wall Street analyst raised concerns this week about potential early pilot retirements at Delta and whether they could hinder the company's ability to fly all of its mainline aircraft.

The No. 3 carrier said in a regulatory filing last week it may have to file for bankruptcy if it cannot meet its cost-cutting goals. The pilots have proposed a 9 percent pay cut, which the company has called inadequate.

Delta employs 8,800 pilots who fly more than 500 aircraft.

 

[Lear70]

Can you blame them? Concession talks in progress, retirement based on FAE, no one knows what the futuer holds...

For the guys who have planned their retirment well, if they can take early retirement and save their plans within a workable margin, why bother with the unknown?

I only wish my dad at USAirways could have such a lucrative option. For the Delta guys, it helps everyone involved, gives them the stability of the known versus the unknown, and if they've planned right, maybe it's not such a bad option.

Hell, we can always go teach aerobatics instruction - beats the hell out of having your wife run you out of the house to go fish... eventually they smell if you don't eat them!

 

[Gumbydammit]

"eventually they smell if you don't eat them!"

Are you still talking about the fish?

 

[Networ-King]

I only wish my dad at USAirways could have such a lucrative option. For the Delta guys, it helps everyone involved, gives them the stability of the known versus the unknown, and if they've planned right, maybe it's not such a bad option.

You wouldn't be saying this Sh!t if you were in my shoes or the shoes of another 1059 guys sitting on a close to 3 year furlough. These jagoffs knew this day was gonna happen sooner or later and now Alpa has made another deal without getting the furloughs back. Ya I know they are in negotiations, and I can't wait for the disappointment. "It helps everyone involved" huh? really.......

Pilot shortage? 1060 guys on furlough? Early retirements?

Sorry, in my little head the solution is clear and if I was making the money that these thieves are making "management" I would be thinking way ahead of the game, but "their" F'd up solution.......

Hey lets get these guys out and then hire them back as contract pilots and we won't have to train any new guys and bring back the furloughed guys.

Its OK for management to think like this, but when DALPA thinks like this and then agrees to crap like this with a side letter without bringing us back????? Doesnt take a brain surgeon to figure out what they are all about.....

sorry about the rant

 

[General Lee]

Networking,

Even though I currently cannot feel the same type of frustration you feel, I think it will work out for you. The problem with having 50 or 60% of all of the 777 Capts at once retiring is that you would have to park the 777 fleet for under manning. It takes about 4-5 weeks to train someone new for a 777 Capt position, and the problem is that these early retirements can pull their papers and NOT retire within 24 hours I believe. So, Delta cannot just throw a bid out there well in advance and then get burned when half of them decide not to retire. Once the June 1st date comes and goes--then Delta will have a better picture of what HAS happened. This Cap increase is only for affected aircraft and bases, and hopefully it is NOT permanent. We can raise the cap again on all aircraft when TBKANE comes back. I really don't see Dalpa "screwing" you guys over too much(other than a slower recall rate than you may want)---due to the fact that they could have made a deal before we hit the trigger---instead they publically came out and stated they wanted the recalls, and then Delta publically stated that they didn't think they would be affected much with the return of the furloughs.... I hope you come back as soon as possible.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Networ-King]

General,

I appreciate the support and I wish I could have an ounce of faith in Delta or Alpa, but in my opinion the only way that things would work out alright is if Delta put the idiot responsible for not hedging fuel in charge ( Insert Sarcasm here)

Hopefully we'll see you on the property in the next 5 years, after mother d exits BK.

And to think, delta hit the recall RPM numbers with 3000 less pilots and all the MD 11's and 727's parked. Hhhhmmm

 

[General Lee]

Networ-king,

I sure hope that does not happen, (the BK part) and with the stronger loads this summer---maybe it won't anytime soon. The fuel prices don't help though--but the full loads--especially to Europe and INTL---will help a lot. I think those fuel prices will go down after the Summer rush is over and before the Presidential election.

As far as Dalpa goes, I have been surprised more than once with what they have done as of late--and all of that in a good way. I thought they might do something with the recalls that would "screw you guys over" and I was surprised that they have not (as of yet). They could have easily sold you out before the trigger was met--but they did NOT. I thought they could have caved in immediately after Grinstein's road shows---but they have remained strong and they know the numbers and want to negotiate. I think that is good. I hope it works out for all of us.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[CU@OSHKOSH]

Yeah, we would have to park ALL 4 777's.

 

[Lear70]

You wouldn't be saying this Sh!t if you were in my shoes or the shoes of another 1059 guys sitting on a close to 3 year furlough.

I AM on permanent furlough from EOI where I was making six figures flying 6 days on 8 days off in a 727, coming up on 3 years myself... Now I fly for about half of that with 10 days off a month, but at least I have a job - difference is, I don't have a carrier to go back to - they filed Chapter 7 and shut it down after C-Net 2001.

Hey lets get these guys out and then hire them back as contract pilots and we won't have to train any new guys and bring back the furloughed guys.

Its OK for management to think like this, but when DALPA thinks like this and then agrees to crap like this with a side letter without bringing us back????? Doesnt take a brain surgeon to figure out what they are all about.....

sorry about the rant

If that's the case, then you had every right to rant. I only get second-hand information from some friends I have who are in the same boat you are over there at D, so I might not have gotten the full scoop... I can only hope that the General is right, and you guys will be back on property sooner rather than later. Best of luck.

p.s. Gumby, I like the way you think - you're probably the only guy who got that...

 

[rjcap]

Does anybody know what was actually signed between mgmt and the union ??????

 

[General Lee]

RJCAP,

Yes, the union agreed to temporarily give relief in certain categories that are affected by many early retirements. For example--the 777 Capt category will be under manned--so Dalpa will allow the cap to be raised enough to cover the shortage. Maybe up to 85 hours a month instead of the mandatory 75 hours in our contract when we have a furlough on the street. They will eventually have to train to fill those positions, though.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Hawker rider]

And to think, delta hit the recall RPM numbers with 3000 less pilots and all the MD 11's and 727's parked.

this is indeed very interesting......

 

[General Lee]

Since 9-11 we parked about 60 mainline aircraft (727s, L1011s, MD-11s) and have added hundreds of RJs---all of which have now lead to larger delays which cost more money in fuel costs etc.....Now the passengers are back--and 45 or so of those planes in the desert are unserviceable----all except the MD-11s---and we are now only getting 45 more 50 seat RJs.......Hmmmm.? We are expecting even more passengers this Summer than the Summer of 2000----the previous record holder, and the ATL airport is expecting it's busiest Summer ever this year.....

Bye Bye--General Lee