Let's take emotion out of it for a minute.

[flyhigh]

I'm for it because it's right for business. If it was bad, Citibank wouldn't have been willing to loan the money. US put together a presentation showing enough benefits to move this far.

 

[Itestwell]

I have a question for our friends from US Air. Let's put aside all of the "my airline is better than yours" for a minute.

My question is this. WHY exactly are you so in favor of this proposed merger? Given all the confidence that it's basically a done deal, there has to be a reason better than simply because you don't like a certain poster or because you think those of us at DAL are brainwashed and arrogant. What is in the deal that will make YOU better off?

Let's also put Delta aside for a minute as well. As it exists today, do you think US Airways has everything it needs in order to be a strong and viable competitor now and in the long term?

Honestly, could not care less if we stay USAirways, or become DL. I want to be employed by a strong, viable, fierce competitior in this challenging industry. I don't care if the HQ are in ATL or PHX or wherever. I dont care if I can fly more international, I dont care if I can transfer to ATL. I want what is best for the employees of US (and DL). If there is value in this transaction, great! Why not!? Bring it on! Make it work, DP!

Employee emotion on either side does not concern management. Difficult mergers have taken place in many industries throughout the years. I want them to look at the books, figure out what is best, and either do it or don't. Period. Good luck to all of us.

PS: Most US employees are really really cool! met some cool DL ones, too!

 

[Vikedog64]

Honestly, could not care less if we stay USAirways, or become DL. I want to be employed by a strong, viable, fierce competitior in this challenging industry. I don't care if the HQ are in ATL or PHX or wherever. I dont care if I can fly more international, I dont care if I can transfer to ATL. I want what is best for the employees of US (and DL). If there is value in this transaction, great! Why not!? Bring it on! Make it work, DP!

Employee emotion on either side does not concern management. Difficult mergers have taken place in many industries throughout the years. I want them to look at the books, figure out what is best, and either do it or don't. Period. Good luck to all of us.

PS: Most US employees are really really cool! met some cool DL ones, too!

Being a DL employee, I could have not said it better myself. We just all want to be treated fairly.

 

[flyingcat]

Being a DL employee, I could have not said it better myself. We just all want to be treated fairly.

Considering how large the Delta network is the last thing management would do is staple anyone. In pure employee numbers Delta employees will make up the majority of the new Delta. Also, comparing average seniority between pre merger US/HP/DL. US actually has a lower average seniority overall. US most senior group remains pilots with the average age around 55. All of us younger folk who plan to stick around will have plenty of opportunities in the cockpit, at the desk, counter etc. Combining our two networks will make us both stronger.

Consider this of all the possible combinations in terms of total US market share US/DL are one of the lowest. The highest would be UA/AA. If the government will not allow this than this will be a serious reversal of economic policy regarding industry consolidation.

This industry since deregulation continues to evolve and LCCs are here to stay. Legacies will have to grow in size and network to maintain a competitive advantage. There will always be a market for a full service carrier (interlining,first class, small city service).

Imagine a world were LCC/legacy market share is 50/50. :blink:

DL employees should see that the last thing we want in any merger is for the both sides to be worse off. They may not agree with our means but they must see that we want a successful future.

 

[rsv4ever]

Being a DL employee, I could have not said it better myself. We just all want to be treated fairly.

US employee here... this all says it... I want to work for a strong company.

btw- most of the US employees are easy going and fun. im sure its the same way at DL... this board brings out the worst in a lot of people, so dont listen to what is being said on here... both airlines employees need to actually meet the other airlines employees to see that both companies have great people.

 

[QA4Jet-A]

Jetman, Thanks for that very well written post. Its nice to know that some east US employees appreciate how hard it was to lose the HP name. We liked our little corner of the world and were thrust into the BIG COLD world! Yes, this merger is bigger than all of us and I hoep if it happens we will all be successful. There will be problems along the way, there were problems before any of the mergers. Its just the nature of life. I hope the future is bright for all of us.

adding to what Mama said, very nice & thoughtful post.... something different for a change. Thank You Jet...

 

[NewHampshire Black Bears]

Considering how large the Delta network is the last thing management would do is staple anyone. In pure employee numbers Delta employees will make up the majority of the new Delta. Also, comparing average seniority between pre merger US/HP/DL. US actually has a lower average seniority overall. US most senior group remains pilots with the average age around 55. All of us younger folk who plan to stick around will have plenty of opportunities in the cockpit, at the desk, counter etc. Combining our two networks will make us both stronger.

Consider this of all the possible combinations in terms of total US market share US/DL are one of the lowest. The highest would be UA/AA. If the government will not allow this than this will be a serious reversal of economic policy regarding industry consolidation.

This industry since deregulation continues to evolve and LCCs are here to stay. Legacies will have to grow in size and network to maintain a competitive advantage. There will always be a market for a full service carrier (interlining,first class, small city service).

Imagine a world were LCC/legacy market share is 50/50. :blink:

DL employees should see that the last thing we want in any merger is for the both sides to be worse off. They may not agree with our means but they must see that we want a successful future.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

flyingcat,

IF the deal goes thru, the following will happen;

The pilots(both ALPA/union) will be "dovetailed"

All the other workgroups will have a DL majority,(NON union). BUT...the different groups will probably experience union organizing drives !

If we were to combine the PRO union US F/A's(at first a minority), with PRO union DL F/A's(currently a minority), coupled would become a MAJORITY. At that point, the current AFA members "should" retain there union seniority, which would(in effect) result in a "staple"

The same could occur with the AMT's/Ramp/Counter-gates and Res.


NH/BB's

 

[Itestwell]

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

flyingcat,

IF the deal goes thru, the following will happen;

The pilots(both ALPA/union) will be "dovetailed"

All the other workgroups will have a DL majority,(NON union). BUT...the different groups will probably experience union organizing drives !

If we were to combine the PRO union US F/A's(at first a minority), with PRO union DL F/A's(currently a minority), coupled would become a MAJORITY. At that point, the current AFA members "should" retain there union seniority, which would(in effect) result in a "staple"

The same could occur with the AMT's/Ramp/Counter-gates and Res.
NH/BB's

This is not AA. There would definitely not be a staple within the FA group. Ever. Fear not, DL FA's. Now if you were to merge with AA, watch out! :blink:

 

[MMB]

If we were to combine the PRO union US F/A's(at first a minority), with PRO union DL F/A's(currently a minority), coupled would become a MAJORITY. At that point, the current AFA members "should" retain there union seniority, which would(in effect) result in a "staple"

The same could occur with the AMT's/Ramp/Counter-gates and Res.
NH/BB's

Except that DP wants this all to happen before DL comes out of BK. He has said that if DL comes out of BK before this goes through that it won’t work.
What could happen is DP will cherry pick what he wants to end up with based, in part, on headache factor.
E.g.
All but dump CLT and lay off the associated (union) workers. If he plays nice with the Delta people he would effectively stack the deck, keeping the pro-union side in the minority. I’m not up on union law, but if he got the numbers down low enough, and as he’s already stated he’ll be keeping the DL name, he could even say that AW/US is now merged into non-union DL, so there is no union. Once things shake out he could then back fill CLT to what ever level he actually wants there.

In any case, I do not trust DP, his intensions, or his word. Companies close divisions, have lay-offs, and any sort of nastiness outside BK. Why is it so important to DP that this all happen before DL comes out of BK, that he does not want the deal otherwise?

Another idea:
He can’t throw AW/US into BK. But combining them with DL, he could pose that the entire company is now in BK and that gives him the ability to readdress the AW/US contracts.

 

[bigbusdrvr]

Except that DP wants this all to happen before DL comes out of BK. He has said that if DL comes out of BK before this goes through that it won’t work.
What could happen is DP will cherry pick what he wants to end up with based, in part, on headache factor.
E.g.
All but dump CLT and lay off the associated (union) workers. If he plays nice with the Delta people he would effectively stack the deck, keeping the pro-union side in the minority. I’m not up on union law, but if he got the numbers down low enough, and as he’s already stated he’ll be keeping the DL name, he could even say that AW/US is now merged into non-union DL, so there is no union. Once things shake out he could then back fill CLT to what ever level he actually wants there.

In any case, I do not trust DP, his intensions, or his word. Companies close divisions, have lay-offs, and any sort of nastiness outside BK. Why is it so important to DP that this all happen before DL comes out of BK, that he does not want the deal otherwise?

Another idea:
He can’t throw AW/US into BK. But combining them with DL, he could pose that the entire company is now in BK and that gives him the ability to readdress the AW/US contracts.

----------------------------------------------------------

us is not in bkruptcy... he cant dump union jobs without negotiations... youve been nonunion to long, it doesnt work that way sweety!! its important he accomplishes this before delta emerges from bnkruptcy because...."wait till you hear this!!" all the promises you got from delta mgt. about stock for your lost pensions( pilots) frozen pensions( f/a's and others) will be gone before emergence...Where do you think the 1.6 billion in synergies start..... Welcome to the real world where the bank controls the purse and you "Love to fly and it shows" or your fired!!

 

[mcjava]

another newbie pops-up. interesting

As ATL 73N said, just exactly what are you saying?

Oops, I'm labeled a Newbie too,so I guess someone will berate me in the same way.

 

[JohnHenry]

As ATL 73N said, just exactly what are you saying?

Oops, I'm labeled a Newbie too,so I guess someone will berate me in the same way.

I came on board because my company board moderator was pulling any thread that was politically incorrect. This forum is exciting because of the unlimited perspectives; Jetman, MMB, on and on...all good inputs. I don't think emotion can ever be omitted, I lost my "Esprit de Corps" when Pan Am went belly up but I can still relate to all that have endured in this business. I think as this US/Delta venture gets closer to the wire we are going to see more Newbies, and hey..... everyone on this forum was a Newbie at one time. Thanks.

 

[abe]

----------------------------------------------------------

us is not in bkruptcy... he cant dump union jobs without negotiations... youve been nonunion to long, it doesnt work that way sweety!! its important he accomplishes this before delta emerges from bnkruptcy because...."wait till you hear this!!" all the promises you got from delta mgt. about stock for your lost pensions( pilots) frozen pensions( f/a's and others) will be gone before emergence...Where do you think the 1.6 billion in synergies start..... Welcome to the real world where the bank controls the purse and you "Love to fly and it shows" or your fired!!

First off, the Delta pilots are union (just like you) and the unsecured claim that was negotiated might actually be worth more because of this crazy deal.

The synergies are a total smoke and mirrors act. I may have missed it but where does Mr. Parker talk about the negative synergies that occur with a gazillion a/c types (even the only real common airframes..,757's...have different engines at each company), the proximity of major hubs (ATL/CLT and PHL/JFK), and the almost uncanny route overlap? If I was looking for two carriers who definitely shouldn't merge, I couldn't find a better match.

This deal has the potential to ruin 2 good carriers, in my opinion.

It's also funny that Parker still has a lot of kinks to work out with the USAirways/AWA merger, yet he talks about "synergies" with this deal!

I wish the USAirways folks luck. You've still got some major work to do, as do the Delta people. The best for both sides, IMO, is to remain apart.

Cheers,

Abe

 

[MMB]

>… all the promises you got from delta mgt. about stock
> for your lost pensions( pilots) frozen pensions( f/a's
> and others) will be gone before emergence...Where do
> you think the 1.6 billion in synergies start.....

Thank you!!!
Exactly what everybody Delta has been posting. There are NO positives for Delta in this deal, only negatives. Why then would anyone from this side support such a one-sided power grab, before or <sic> after it happens?

 

[MMB]

> us is not in bkruptcy... he cant dump union jobs
> without negotiations... youve been nonunion to
> long, it doesnt work that way sweety!!


Never say never. I've watched companies bust unions and seen the members asking each other what happened.
Oh yes, is this another example of DP's synergy?
http://www.usaviation.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=32181