Tanker Clown
KC-10 IP
- Joined
- May 22, 2004
- Posts
- 1,653
Wave,
Good question about Dalpa. HOPEFULLY they will negotiate for just what you said, leapfrogging your rates. A contract survey went out a couple months ago, and they did receive it back and of course they said "WE HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR....." But, there are always competing interests. Some of the older FNWA pilots are thinking about their pensions (frozen, but still there), and they would take a smaller raise to keep them. The rest of us want a larger raise, to make up for loss of pensions and some lack of movement until the larger retirement rates start coming in a couple more years. We have heard that RA and the VP of flt ops have both said in public (or open meetings) that they want the contract to be done by the ammendable date (end of next year) or earlier, and that was followed by "the second round of consolidation may be on the way." They apparently don't want to be bothered by a contract and possible M&A activity all at the same time. Also, I was told RA has always had contracts finished by the ammendable date for the FNWA pilots while he was CEO of NWA (as told to me by a FNWA Capt). Does that mean they want us to have your rates for our 737s? I don't think so, but the best thing here is that DALPA actually has something else to worry about. There is an independent union drive going on at the same time, for a group called the DPA (Delta Pilot's Association). So far close to 4000 have signed up for a vote. There needs to be about 6500 to force a vote, and if the eventual TA isn't great, that could push the other union drive and force a vote, meaning ALPA could lose over $30 million a year in dues from Delta alone. That is helping push ALPA and DALPA into actually negotiating, which is good. Fingers crossed!
Bye Bye--General Lee
Hope your right Gerbil. But judging by Song's history, you guys will cave. If you had such a good quarter (and you'd be the first to tell everyone that it was better than SWA's) then why wouldn't you DEMAND better rates on the 737 and even better rates for wide body jets? Your company made more money, so they can afford to pay a superior pilot who works for a better company a better wage right?
My crystal ball says you'll get a "raise" well below inflation and continue to trail SWA wages. The company will use AA's CH11 as leverage. You guys are weak, so you'll buy it hook, line, and sinker. They'll throw in a trinket or two to give you something to brag about (maybe your own van to the hotel). But at least you'll have better overnights as Song Capts make SWA FO money.