Will Delta pilots protect ASA pilots?

[Jack-O-Lantern]

And if they told you wolverines would make good housepets, would you believe them?

No, but that doobie smoking chimp would be cool!

 

[AVoiceOfReason]

And LM plans to run for Prater's position, but can't win without ASA and CMR's votes. Expect lots of promises to be made and then reneged on right after the election.

So then the question becomes: Does our MEC actually believe LM, or are they just naive?

 

[JECKEL]

"Members of the ASA MEC and negotiating committee members are opining that it doesn't matter what the ASA cost structure is. They have been told by the Delta MEC, that ASA will be protected by the Delta MEC and that we are "golden"."

As much, or as little, I find this interesting, it should be most important to Skywest folks.
I don't believe ASA planes and pilots are going to find a whole lot of security without first getting it from Skywest management.
So I guess the Delta MEC will have to inform the Skywest suits of their feeder carrier intentions and then have that disseminated to the rank and file at ASA.
Does the Delta MEC also plan on protecting the Skywest pilots?
I would love to see ALPA's Delta feeder carrier initiatives and its plans for carving up the regional market.

 

[crj567]

Yeah-Right!

I don't trust LM any more than I trust SH (and I harbor a very special dislike for that thoroughly disengenuous S.O.B.) Whatever was said, we should be very, very leery of. LM is a total snake-in-the-grass.

-And, yes-Wolverines do make excellent housepets. Mine is curled up by my feet right now. I don't worry to much about burgularies when "daisy" is looking after my stuff.

 

[cybourg10]

In theory this sounds good and I have long been an advocate of mainline unions putting strong restrictions on who can fly as a Connection or Express carrier, that along with having a big part in contract negotiations on pay, work rules, and any possible flow through agreements.

Sounds good but I do not believe it.

 

[GRAAB HIRBOUBI]

I think if an opportunity came up for the DALPA guys to make 50 cents more a day and the only thing they had to do was line up all the Delta regional pilots up in uniform (hats too) then machete us into little pieces for the half time show on Monday Night Football they would do it.

The best ASA can hope for as protection is that the mainline guys not dispatch us in alphabetical order.

While we are lucky to have some mainline guys giving us their insight to our jobs and stuff, more than 90% of any Major carriers pilots could care less what their regionals are doing as long as it doesn't interfere with their pay or days off.

Being and employee of a wholly owned, I have no illusions about my job security. I work at the will and pleasure of Delta. If Delta wakes up and parks all of our SAABs then were hosed. Doesn't matter how profitable or how good our performance is, it all a numbers thing.

Protection...thats funny

 

[JoeMerchant]

If the MEC believes this:

1. They are far too trusting of the Delta MEC...They will sell us out in a heartbeat!

2. How would the Delta MEC even pull this off if you are gullible enough to believe they would negotiate something for us....They won't have a new contract for at least 5 years.

3. How does this help us attract new business outside of Delta?

I suspect the ASA MEC is trying to find political cover for their stonewalling on the PBS negotiations....

 

[makersmarc]

And if they told you wolverines would make good housepets, would you believe them?

Why not? They sure as he11 can't play football (lately).

 

[ASApuppy]

My 2 cents,

First, I do think we are in good graces with Delta. One does not need to look much further than the last hiring spree at DAL. Out of 700 something they hired, half were from ASA. I think its important not to bite the hand that feeds you. Comair is learning this lesson daily. I do think there is value to being ALPA in all this. Even with the conflicts of interest that are occuring, I'd rather be on this side of the fence than with no union at all.

ASA management will spin everything. A few years ago, the 900's and 700's were to be decided by St George based on who behaves. Now, we are told that DAL alone decides where airplanes go and who flys what. If thats the case, then I have a cost saving suggestion. Furlough the entire GO.

I still think that ASA has been put in trust of Skywest Inc. They have been tasked with getting us in shape and a lean machine. Then I think they will buy us back. It has been the rumor since day one of the sale. Just look whats happening with the outstations. One by one, they are going back to a wholly owned. Funny how they make a big deal about it for the outstations, but celebrated when they did it to ATL. All this time, Skywest is losing revenue for the stations they are losing and not really squawking. Hummmm.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

I agree that if you look at the DCI contract signed for ASA it really does look like it is set up for ASA to be repurchased.
That said, what would the reasoning be except to flex the EV flying farther down than it is now?

 

[flyboyike]

I agree that if you look at the DCI contract signed for ASA it really does look like it is set up for ASA to be repurchased.
That said, what would the reasoning be except to flex the EV flying farther down than it is now?

It's almost like you're under the impression DAL management is out to do what makes sense, business or otherwise. That's not what their track record suggests.

I'm also not real clear on what they would do with yet another wholly-owned, but that's just me.

 

[Hobit]

DALPA will take care of DALPA's needs.

No emotion, just $$$$.

 

[crjskipper]

but the fact that our union leaders will risk our hide because delta's mec says they will 'protect' us shows how far removed they are from reality. it's past time for change with our alpa. 3 or 4 people will ruin how far we have come. business decisions are made based upon facts and reason, not hand shakes and promises made at bars. alpa is holding pbs hostage while they bet our future on a gamble. we deserve more than that.

 

[JumpersAway]

While I would like to believe that DALPA has a vested intrest in our well being, it has been stated by LM himself, that he is out for the betterment of HIS pilot group alone. To pin our future on a gentleman's agreement with no concrete or binding literature would be foolish, at best. I welcome any opportunity to work with Delta on furthering the profession as a whole, but I absolutely will not stand for being a sacrificial lamb to further someone elses' agenda. The reality is, we DO need to meet our cost target. This is especially critical given the amount of RJ flying that is out there as a result of the merger, rising fuel costs, and weak travel demand. There are several abundantly clear points here- Delta is making business decisions on money alone, they don't interject emotion or love into their decisions, and they don't foster a love for RJ's they way they once did.

Because of the above, I'm thinking we will ultimately end up with two initiatives- dual qual, and PBS. Not because we want to, but because we HAVE to- we can thank Pinch-nickle for that. If this T/A passes, it's a new ball game for us. I'm not in favor of any sort of duty rig change or hourly rate reduction, but we've got to compete here, or find ourselves looking for work.

Personally, nothing would make me happier than to wax Pinnacle while sporting better work rules and pay- just to throw it in their face. The disdain I'm harboring for Pinch-nickle at this point is burning- but I'm not suprised. I'm supressing it in the hopes that the T/A will fail, but it's unlikely. After years of working on a non compete DCI agreement, they go and cut our throats like this..........................

If Delta buys us back, we're hosed. Plain and simple. Don't kid yourself- Delta is looking at a purchase prise, as well as the benafitial cost savings of shedding 50 seat lift, saving Jet A, and cutting capacity. It seems clear to me that they won't buy us back and grow us- hasn't happened to Mesaba, Comair, or Compass, has it? Why would it be different for us- because we're ASA? I think not. Besides, whatever SkyWest manages to do in order to trim us down and get us into shape, Delta management will undo. A year after repurchase, it will be the same ole' stuff, different time. Poor management of a good regional, and even poorer organization/labor relations.

I hope our next LEC/MEC recognizes what's at stake here- our future depends on it. I also hope they recognize the importance of continued work with Delta, and the other DCI carriers..................here's hoping.

Research your candidates and vote wisely....................Definately educate yourself on this!

 

[JoeMerchant]

but the fact that our union leaders will risk our hide because delta's mec says they will 'protect' us shows how far removed they are from reality. it's past time for change with our alpa. 3 or 4 people will ruin how far we have come. business decisions are made based upon facts and reason, not hand shakes and promises made at bars. alpa is holding pbs hostage while they bet our future on a gamble. we deserve more than that.

This MEC is playing a very dangerous game with our careers...

 

[JoeMerchant]

I hope our next LEC/MEC recognizes what's at stake here- our future depends on it. I also hope they recognize the importance of continued work with Delta, and the other DCI carriers..................here's hoping.

JumpersAway,

I believe most pilots would agree with you. We don't need to "hope" that our next MEC recognizes this....We have the ability to choose 4 people who do think this way...Forget "hoping"...It's time to act!

 

[Scope out RJ's]

DALPA will take care of DALPA's needs.

Gosh, imagine that, an MEC looking after it's own pilots' needs!

No emotion, just $$$$.

No brains, just bull********************!

JumpersAway,

I believe most pilots would agree with you. We don't need to "hope" that our next MEC recognizes this....We have the ability to choose 4 people who do think this way...Forget "hoping"...It's time to act!

I'm sure most ASA pilots hoped you'd act in accordance to what was required from an LEC officer. However, forget hoping, you acted like a complete dickhead, hence why you are in the position you are in!
Hopefully ASA pilots won't make the same fatal mistake!

 

[budd]

DALPA could have changed history if they would have supported Comair during the strike. I mean really changed history and the direction of the airlines and our careers. They didn't and they won't support any regional today, plain and simple. They suck but they will inivte you to the pizza party to say that we're all in this together. Those guys will throw all of us under the bus. If you believe anything ALPA says, the ocean front property in ??? is for sale!!!! If you support ALPA, I would ask again did DALPA quit flying to support Comair????? NO!!! NO!!! NO!!! They could have changed all of this like Comair guys hoped to, and they left those guys hanging from the cliff. So now it's a free for all and DALPA guys are all confy with their cushy jobs and could give a rats ass about where they came from or more importantly , YOU!!!!

 

[ASA Captain]

The only reason this would actually happen is if they get their hands on our seniority list. I have heard rumblings of flow-through crap and this smells like a pile of it.

 

[cessnamann]

My guess: there is going to be another MOU at DL allowing more 76 seat jets as long as they are flown by selected carriers along with a bilateral flow through. ACL, please tell me I'm wrong.