I would like to know the status of the MSP hangars as well... I had heard that DL did give up 3 hangars - not sure which ones in exchange for 3 other ones.
Obviously the AM maintenance JV presents unknowns and there is clearly reason for distrust when it comes to maintenance among the network carriers... but
DL has done a far better job than the rest of the industry in using its own maintenance capabilities to make money through an aggressive MRO business. While we all would like to believe any American can competitively do any job with anyone else in the world, the simple fact is that the cost of labor is low enough in other parts of the world such that they can do work which Americans cannot do.
I had to make the dreaded call to tech support for my computer today. To my surprise the people on the other end - obviously in another country speaking English with an accent - although it was easily understandable - quickly solved the problem. Or at least told me my computer had serious enough issues that I had to make decisions based on information they provided. Not happy with the problem but was happy with the service that was provided - and I know full well that if that call was handled in the US, it would have cost 10 times what the mfr of my computer would have paid US workers.
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That said, I have a lot stronger view of protecting American jobs than alot of people here might think.
I believe that a company needs to put forth an ENORMOUS amount of effort and needs to prove without a shadow of a doubt that they cannot continue to hire American workers to do the job they are considering for outsourcing.
I also believe that when a business is failing, there is a whole lot of latitude that must be provided to the company to turn things around... often labor doubts problems really exist when it is clear they are there and they should be doubtful. But I also know that business and economics require changes which must be allowed to take place or the result will be an eventual failure.
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Within that framework, DL had its moment of latitude to restructure but it is a profitable business now. They do not have the latitude to outsource total JOBS which once were done inhouse. However, it is very possible that specific functions might one day no longer make sense to do inhouse and continuing to force keeping jobs which do not make economic sense to do inhouse only will result in a business failure down the road.
specific to maintenance, I have said before and will say again that I would gladly support a law saying that any airplane that flies to/from the US must be maintained by US workers or ones that are paid wages comparable to American mechanics... but I know that would never happen.
Thus, labor needs to hold mgmt responsible for preserving JOBS but not necessarily functions. Labor in my mind often does not get that distinction.
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I truly hope DL will expand its maintenance capabilities in MSP and in other places where NW decimated its maintenance workforce. But my highest priority is that no DL mechanic - or any other DL employee - should see his or JOB (not function) outsourced if the company can remain profitable.
Now go to your room and do 100 Hail Deltas and 20 Our Mothers, and ask for forgiveness.
