Pilot wives vs Delta

[Edward64]

AJC 02/25 - Letters to Editor

Delta Air Lines

Exit strategy may prove disastrous

Delta Air Lines' greedy management has persuaded the bankruptcy court to let it give up to a year's severance pay to executives who lose their jobs because of restructuring. The program, which covers 144 people, could cost up to $15 million .

That is too much to squander on personnel going out the door, especially when the company is in bankruptcy. Other employees don't get that kind of severance; why should executives?

Management has raided retirement pension trusts, cut pay and benefits, and moved to terminate pension plans. Now they have the audacity to seek more perks for executives. This is outrageous. It continues to poison once-strong employee relationships, which may ultimately prove to be the company's downfall.

Vicki Mxxxxxxxx

Mxxxxxxxx, of Fayetteville, is the wife of a Delta Air Lines pilot.

Don't give in to egomaniacal pilots

As another deadline (March 1) approaches for Delta Air Lines and its pilots, I hope the company shows some backbone. The decades of overcompensation awarded to those underworked crybabies dwarfs the relatively paltry millions that former CEO Leo Mullin and his management team received.

If the pilots strike and Delta is forced to liquidate, the small percentage of egomaniacs who can find another job will fly for half of what they earn now, and start as co-pilots answering to a 35-year-old captain. Given their inherent pomposity and greed, that prospect in itself should induce them to flinch.

Brian Mxxxxx

Mxxxxx, of Marietta, is a mechanic for Delta Air Lines.


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

These 2 letters were in the Sat AJC and I found it interesting. I've seen letters from pilot wives before but I don't think I've ever seen another letter critical of pilots from within the Delta organization.

Although I can be persuaded otherwise, I currently believe

(1) There is little sympathy for pilots (or wives) who complain about reduction in benefits and comp (ex. senior pilots used to make $250K+). Pilot wives should especially be quiet because their letters make them look whinny and like spoiled soccer moms ...

(2) Regardless of who is right or wrong, who shoulders the most blame, who is or is not negotiating in good faith, why don't the pilots see (a) current management team is not the same as the old and should not bear that burden (b) the time to negotiate is after Delta stock price is back to $x and (c) suck it up for now and (d) realize their jobs (although it has tremendous responsibility), after the initial training, is really not all that hard.


What say you? Go Vicki M or go Brian M?

[gstelmack]

How about both? Management AND Pilots?

[EagleFan]

D. Whatever doesn't cause me to lose my sky miles.

[Greyroofoo]

No Trout option?

[Edward64]

Oh uh ... going downhill fast ...

Anyone in the airline/pilot industry/union that can shed a light on this subject?

[Grammaticus]

I don't know the details, but the article says "management has persuaded the bankruptcy court to let it give up to a year's severance pay to executives who lose their jobs because of restructuring", not sure if that is honoring separation contracts with those executives that already exist or if they are doing so on the fly. If it is existing contracts, then they should be able to pay it. If not, it may still be a yes in order to reduce the number of execs salaries long term a one year payout may be best for the restructure. It is up to the court to determine if the overall plan is good or not. It may cost 15 million right now, but if they do not cut the positions, it could cost 30 million over 2 years, etc.

Bottom line is, at some point the talent that gets Delta out of the bankruptcy troubles they are in is going to be executives, not pilots, wives/husbands, stewardesses, mechanics or anyone else at the table. Since Delta is in a mess, they will have to pay top dollar to get good executives to come in and clean up. Those talented executives that are out there, will not agree to join if they cannot build a strong exit package into their contracts. In other words, anyone from the outside looking in is in a stronger bargaining position.

[Wolfpack]

"Kill them all! Let God sort them out!"

[Galaxy]

I find it funny that the pilots and unions are so much against giving up anything when the airline industry is tip-toeing to survive. 10-15 years, the low-fare carriers were not the players they are now.

[SackAttack]

I find it funny that the pilots and unions are so much against giving up anything when the airline industry is tip-toeing to survive. 10-15 years, the low-fare carriers were not the players they are now.

I think the difference here isn't that the pilots are against "giving up anything" as that it sticks in the craw a little bit to be losing one's pension and then watching an exec get a golden parachute.

I understand the need to attract executive talent with compensation packages, but the guys being let go right now probably shouldn't be getting those kind of perks.

Just an uninformed two cents from a casual observer.

[SnowMan]

I dunno. Riding in the back of a multi-multi-multi-million dollar airplane going 500 mph, I kinda want the guy up front to be fairly happy. I don't think the huge salaries that pilots saw in the past is a very good business plan (obviously), but I also think someone with millions of dollars of equipment and a few hundred lives in his hands should be compensated as such.

Nobody complains about doctors' salaries, yet they can only kill 1 person at a time. :)

And since I am an airline pilot (non-union), I don't blame the pilots directly, I blame the unions. Those crazy high contracts are part of what drove the majors into bankruptcy in the first place. Rampers, mechanics, flight attendants, and CSAs aren't without blame either.

[Desnudo]

Unnecessary union option

[Galaxy]

I think the difference here isn't that the pilots are against "giving up anything" as that it sticks in the craw a little bit to be losing one's pension and then watching an exec get a golden parachute.

I understand the need to attract executive talent with compensation packages, but the guys being let go right now probably shouldn't be getting those kind of perks.

Just an uninformed two cents from a casual observer.


I agree with you on the idea of execs not getting a golden parachute. But Delta's situation is very messy, and doesn't seem to have any promise of getting it fixed anytime soon. Both sides (and leave the wives at home) need to come together and realize that the times and competition has changed. United managed to re-structure nicely with its unions, and seems to have a bright future to turn things around.

[cuervo72]

I find it funny that the pilots and unions are so much against giving up anything when the airline industry is tip-toeing to survive. 10-15 years, the low-fare carriers were not the players they are now.

From what I've gathered from my father-in-law - who as a retired Delta pilot could be a bit of a biased source but could also have some insight - the main reason that these low-fare carriers are now players is...because they don't have the overhead that the established airlines have in the form of pensions. Either that will eventually catch up with the newer airlines too (at which point even newer companies could come along and knock them off, basically creating a cycle) or they will end up not providing the same benefits that past pilots have recieved, which I'm sure would not much please the pilots' union (my thoughts here, not his).

I could see from his point of view though how as a retiree he wouldn't be very pleased with benefits that he earned under the rules as he understood them at the time being pulled. I would imagine this is no different from any other sector (auto workers, federal employees, etc). Should that change because he received a healthy salary (I can't say for sure what he made, but I'm sure it was ok...then again, he was a pilot for 30+ years. I'd think many of us would hope that over the course of 30 years in a given profession we would end up making a decent wage). It's not exactly like it was cake work either, from what I've heard. Years of training (and back then, that training was predominantly military), occasional relocations, uncertainties from mergers/buyouts (he started with National, which was bought out by PanAm, which later went under and parts wound up with Delta), road trips (time apart from the wife and kids), etc.

[Galaxy]

From what I've gathered from my father-in-law - who as a retired Delta pilot could be a bit of a biased source but could also have some insight - the main reason that these low-fare carriers are now players is...because they don't have the overhead that the established airlines have in the form of pensions. Either that will eventually catch up with the newer airlines too (at which point even newer companies could come along and knock them off, basically creating a cycle) or they will end up not providing the same benefits that past pilots have recieved, which I'm sure would not much please the pilots' union (my thoughts here, not his).

I could see from his point of view though how as a retiree he wouldn't be very pleased with benefits that he earned under the rules as he understood them at the time being pulled. I would imagine this is no different from any other sector (auto workers, federal employees, etc). Should that change because he received a healthy salary (I can't say for sure what he made, but I'm sure it was ok...then again, he was a pilot for 30+ years. I'd think many of us would hope that over the course of 30 years in a given profession we would end up making a decent wage). It's not exactly like it was cake work either, from what I've heard. Years of training (and back then, that training was predominantly military), occasional relocations, uncertainties from mergers/buyouts (he started with National, which was bought out by PanAm, which later went under and parts wound up with Delta), road trips (time apart from the wife and kids), etc.

Southwest has been flying for years....They have lower cost structures in terms of single-plane fleet, higher plane usage, lower-cost airpots, point-to-point route system (instead of the antique hub-and-spoke system of the big airlines) single-classes without the frills (though now, they aren't much). Labor is second in terms of expense behind fuel (which is a variable cost unless they hedge, which Southwest also has an advantage in), but it takes up the whole picture. But above all, the Southwest management team has been very smart in keeping relationships with its employees and re-acting to competition. I do think retirees should NOT be effected though.

[Franklinnoble]

It would be better if the federal government would just take the crippled airlines off life support and let them die.

[stkelly52]

One thing that should be pointed out is that Delta will not likly pay $15 million in severance. This is how much they would pay if they laid off ALL of their execs. The final pay out will be FAR lower, but having it as available will keep the good execs with the company.

[PilotMan]

I will be back but for now, I have to go to work. I am surprised noone invited me to the party. Thanks alot guys. :)

[finketr]

Southwest has been flying for years....They have lower cost structures in terms of single-plane fleet, higher plane usage, lower-cost airpots, point-to-point route system (instead of the antique hub-and-spoke system of the big airlines) single-classes without the frills (though now, they aren't much). Labor is second in terms of expense behind fuel (which is a variable cost unless they hedge, which Southwest also has an advantage in), but it takes up the whole picture. But above all, the Southwest management team has been very smart in keeping relationships with its employees and re-acting to competition. I do think retirees should NOT be effected though.

Yes, SWA has a point-to-point system...

Which is awesome if you live in one of those cities which I do not. How does Southwest help me when i have to drive 2-3 hours to get to one of those cities and then wait in security/check-in for an hour or more?

[FrogMan]

I will be back but for now, I have to go to work. I am surprised noone invited me to the party. Thanks alot guys. :)
if that helps you feel better, I thought about you for the two seconds I had this thread opened. I simply never got around to ping you ;)

FM

[Galaxy]

Yes, SWA has a point-to-point system...

Which is awesome if you live in one of those cities which I do not. How does Southwest help me when i have to drive 2-3 hours to get to one of those cities and then wait in security/check-in for an hour or more?

Not sure what that has to do with the debate, but it does suck.

[finketr]

Not sure what that has to do with the debate, but it does suck.

if all the "big carriers" go out-of-business/severely cutback the hub system, then lots of smaller cities/towns are f'ed for traveling by plane.

[ZXTT]

if all the "big carriers" go out-of-business/severely cutback the hub system, then lots of smaller cities/towns are f'ed for traveling by plane.

Well, that's because there are pros and cons to living out of the way. For all the benefits like less time commuting, lower crime rate, etc., you should have to pay extra when you want service, like jet travel, package shipping, etc.

The only alternative is to be subsidized, like the post office, but then why the heck should I sit in traffic and then get to subsidize someone else's travel?

And as for the airline industry: there are simply too many seats. Air travel can only become so cheap, before profits are impossible for most carriers. Some people who can afford to fly today, do so subsidized by airline stock and bond holders. As soon as that situation blows up, you'll see higher ticket prices and fewer people flying.

[finketr]

Well, that's because there are pros and cons to living out of the way. For all the benefits like less time commuting, lower crime rate, etc., you should have to pay extra when you want service, like jet travel, package shipping, etc.

The only alternative is to be subsidized, like the post office, but then why the heck should I sit in traffic and then get to subsidize someone else's travel?

And as for the airline industry: there are simply too many seats. Air travel can only become so cheap, before profits are impossible for most carriers. Some people who can afford to fly today, do so subsidized by airline stock and bond holders. As soon as that situation blows up, you'll see higher ticket prices and fewer people flying.

or, something trivial like that's where the world HQ and the job is?

i totally understand that i live in the middle of nowhere for flying.

[PilotMan]

Alright guys here goes:

To get this back on track, there are numerous people within the greater orgainzation who feel like that mechanic. I am sure that there are pilots out there that he has run into that behave that way. However, it certainly doesn't go for the masses. Pilot wives can say what they want to say, but that doesn't mean that you should listen. They are obviously looking out for their situation.

Pay cuts suck. It doesn't matter who you are or how much money you make (unless you make a rediculous amount that you couldn't spend in one year if you wanted too). Imagine living making half of what you do right now, and being told that you are being a baby for complaining. I love it when they bring out the "senior captain" stat. How many are really senior captain? Not too many, but it sounds good in print doesn't it?

Management will always be management. It doens't matter who is in charge. There will always be the guys who are not to be trusted, because they have earned that right. It is the standard relationship that labor has with management around the world. I can't say that I like it. It is conterproductive and cumbersome, but it has it's time and place.

I understand that there is little sympathy for pilots. The media is typically the mouthpiece for the company and the real voice of the the pilot if hardly ever heard. My company is in bankrupcy mainly because we are owned by Delta. I just signed off on a 25% pay cut. Last year I made 45k. I support 5 people on what I make, and am in debt over 100k because of the cost of trying to become an airline pilot. Not all pilots everywhere make that kind of money. A first year pilot for a small, commuter airline may only make 16k per year.

All this for a job that you spent the equivalent of a small house for? My job is not hard, most of the time. I have long days like the next guy, but job is on the line everyday. There is no get out of jail free card, no malpractice insurance. I have to pass a physical at least once per year (twice for captains), and I have training sessions 2-3 times per year where my job is in jeopardy. I fly with the FAA which is the eqivalent of having the president of the company with his head over your shoulder for the whole day.

So then why do it? Because I like to fly. Because it is what I do. I could go back to restaurant managing, but this is the job I want. I can walk away after the day and I don't have to think about it. I get to travel, and stay in great hotels. But I miss my family too, and my boys miss me. It certainly isn't all it is cracked up to be. Nor will it ever return to the way that it was.

Delta pilots have given up almost half of their previous salary. The hardest part is that the company now wants even more than that. Really, they don't have a leg to stand on. I doubt that they will go on strike or that NW will either.

I have more coming, but this is getting long enough.

[PilotMan]

CEO pay has far outstipped the average employee salary. Like any relationship, it is hard to deal with people telling you that you need to take a paycut to save the company when the person telling you, 1) has been with the company for less time than you, 2) got a guarentee on his paycheck regardess what happens, before he even started, and 3) will get an even bigger bonus when he convinces you to take your salary cuts.

How does that make you feel?

Does that make it wrong? Not if you are the one with your butt on the line. This is a free country, if you don't like it get another job where this doesn't happen. That is why there are boards of directors and shareholders, because they make the decisions. Pilots don't make the decisions, never have. Unions like to tell the pilots that they should be involved and help make decisions too, but this isn't a socialist company. There is a top and a bottom, and like any business when you are on the bottom, it sucks. Just like it sucks right now.

[PilotMan]

I agree with you on the idea of execs not getting a golden parachute. But Delta's situation is very messy, and doesn't seem to have any promise of getting it fixed anytime soon. Both sides (and leave the wives at home) need to come together and realize that the times and competition has changed. United managed to re-structure nicely with its unions, and seems to have a bright future to turn things around.
Delta is in a messy situation however, things are moving along nicely and there is progress being made. The sides have come together on numerous occasions. The thing that is hard for the pilots it is too hard to get back the things that you have given away, and you want to be sure that you are not giving away more than you need too.

Sure thing, when Delta stats making money again, they aren't going to be knocking the pilots door down to start giving them money back. It is a very tight game to play.

United's restructure was not nice with it's unions at all. They went through the same problems, and they had been in bankrupcy since just after 9/11. That is a long time to get your ship together. Don't be under any misconceptions that United's restructure was like a '60's theme song, it wasn't. They came very close to liquidating the company, on a number of occasions. They are on the upside, and Delta and NW will be there soon.

[PilotMan]

Pension loss hurts, especially the older guys. There time was before the 401k, and before planning for your future. Their company told them that they would give them pensions. They lived their lives because they believed the company, and now they are getting burned because of it.

[sterlingice]

Some great stuff in this thread, especially from PilotMan.

SI

[PilotMan]

Southwest has been flying for years....They have lower cost structures in terms of single-plane fleet, higher plane usage, lower-cost airpots, point-to-point route system (instead of the antique hub-and-spoke system of the big airlines) single-classes without the frills (though now, they aren't much). Labor is second in terms of expense behind fuel (which is a variable cost unless they hedge, which Southwest also has an advantage in), but it takes up the whole picture. But above all, the Southwest management team has been very smart in keeping relationships with its employees and re-acting to competition. I do think retirees should NOT be effected though.
Southwest is at the end of their rope as are low cost carriers in general. The only reason the SW has remained at the top of the game given their current labor and overhead is because they have been proactive, and they have always done things a little bit differently. That is in the process of changing though and here is why.

The main reason that SW has gained so much market has been their fuel hedges that they bought from Delta, while Delta was in need of cash. That alone has allowed them to be able to weather this storm that has been fuel storm.

Because of SW's leverage in jet fuel they have been able to set prices for most of the airline industy. Other companies have had to meet their prices to protect their market share. This is causing them to lose money hand over fist, and the solution, isn't to just raise prices. Prices have to be competetive across the board, which is where SW has had success.

SW's fuel hedging is starting to run out though. The drop of hedging went from 80% ro 65% for this year, and that alone, will make their costs go un by at least 500 million. They only made 365 million last year. If nothing changes, they may lose money for the first time in a long, long time.

Culture at SW is changing. Management sees the writing on the wall, and they are begining to make changes. It will affect labor, although the amount is yet to be seen.

Another change is that they have raised ticket prices by $5 per leg on average. That means that all the other airlines that they compete with can raise their prices too. That is just the start for the legacy carriers. They will take advantage of this, and continue to improve as their restructuring completes, and they can raise their ticket prices where they need to be to be profitable.

Jet Blue is another story. They do not have the overhead that the other airlines have yet. They are losing money, mainly because fuel prices are killing them, and Delta's restucturing is going to hurt as well. Their maintenence costs are rising as the warrenties on the planes are ending, and the they have had to ask airbus for a delay in the payments for their airplanes. This is a critical year for them.

[Grammaticus]

Attached are some links regarding pilot salary.

This one is a pay scale site for most airlines. Hourly rate
hxxp://www.willflyforfood.cc/Payscales/PayScales.htm

This one is from a salary site
hxxp://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layouthtmls/swzl_salaryrangenarrowjob_30_TR01.html

And this one is an article that states the starting salary (Delta) for a pilot is 55K, the average is 169K and the top 1% make 200K. Apparently this is straight from the pilots union.

hxxp://www.philly.com/mld/philly/business/13354378.htm

[PilotMan]

Not sure what you really ment to prove, but yes, that is what pilots get paid. Delta pilots are not the only pilots who are giving money back, it is happening across the board at a lot of airlines, and not all pilots make what Delta guys do, and not all pilots are taking cuts who were making what the Delta guys were either.

[SnowMan]

Alright guys here goes:

To get this back on track, there are numerous people within the greater orgainzation who feel like that mechanic. I am sure that there are pilots out there that he has run into that behave that way. However, it certainly doesn't go for the masses. Pilot wives can say what they want to say, but that doesn't mean that you should listen. They are obviously looking out for their situation.

Pay cuts suck. It doesn't matter who you are or how much money you make (unless you make a rediculous amount that you couldn't spend in one year if you wanted too). Imagine living making half of what you do right now, and being told that you are being a baby for complaining. I love it when they bring out the "senior captain" stat. How many are really senior captain? Not too many, but it sounds good in print doesn't it?

Management will always be management. It doens't matter who is in charge. There will always be the guys who are not to be trusted, because they have earned that right. It is the standard relationship that labor has with management around the world. I can't say that I like it. It is conterproductive and cumbersome, but it has it's time and place.

I understand that there is little sympathy for pilots. The media is typically the mouthpiece for the company and the real voice of the the pilot if hardly ever heard. My company is in bankrupcy mainly because we are owned by Delta. I just signed off on a 25% pay cut. Last year I made 45k. I support 5 people on what I make, and am in debt over 100k because of the cost of trying to become an airline pilot. Not all pilots everywhere make that kind of money. A first year pilot for a small, commuter airline may only make 16k per year.

All this for a job that you spent the equivalent of a small house for? My job is not hard, most of the time. I have long days like the next guy, but job is on the line everyday. There is no get out of jail free card, no malpractice insurance. I have to pass a physical at least once per year (twice for captains), and I have training sessions 2-3 times per year where my job is in jeopardy. I fly with the FAA which is the eqivalent of having the president of the company with his head over your shoulder for the whole day.

So then why do it? Because I like to fly. Because it is what I do. I could go back to restaurant managing, but this is the job I want. I can walk away after the day and I don't have to think about it. I get to travel, and stay in great hotels. But I miss my family too, and my boys miss me. It certainly isn't all it is cracked up to be. Nor will it ever return to the way that it was.

Delta pilots have given up almost half of their previous salary. The hardest part is that the company now wants even more than that. Really, they don't have a leg to stand on. I doubt that they will go on strike or that NW will either.

I have more coming, but this is getting long enough.Well said. As a captain for a small commuter up here, every day I have to worry about something happening and my career ending. It doesn't take much these days for the FAA to pull a certificate. I sure don't do it for the 50k a year. I do it because I love flying and because I couldn't imagine being stuck in an office 5 days a week for 8 hours.

[Grammaticus]

Not sure what you really ment to prove, but yes, that is what pilots get paid. Delta pilots are not the only pilots who are giving money back, it is happening across the board at a lot of airlines, and not all pilots make what Delta guys do, and not all pilots are taking cuts who were making what the Delta guys were either.
I'm not trying to prove anything. I heard some really high figures stated and some really low figures stated. Went out and looked for myself out of curiosity. I just thought anyone that was reading the thread must have an interest as well and can see what the spectrum is. It is interesting and the willflyforfood site shows most of the primary airlines. If someone wants to postulate the merits of the salary, there it is. I also find it interesting to look at the other jobs (mechanics, stewardesses, etc.) for reference as well. Some people will think the salaries are very good and some will not. But you pretty much have to know what they are to make an informed opinion.

[Grammaticus]

dola, personally I think a person should try to get the best salary they can in any job.

[Edward64]

Pilotman. Thanks for your personal feedback and professional insight (esp the fuel hedging) some good stuff. I take it you fly for Comair? (I think Delta sold off ASA a year ago?).

I knew the regional pilots did not make near as much as the 'senior captains' and should have been more sensitive to that.

You are probably right that the media do not seem to portray the pilot/union in a favorable light ... I am a little surprised by the unscientific poll, as of now, Vicki is getting the most votes ... I would have thought otherwise.

My neighbor is a pilot that was laid off from American. He found a job for a year flying corporate jets and now has found a job hauling air-freight (I think) ... so I am sympathetic to pilots ... its just Vicki's letter rubbed me the wrong way and it was interesting to see a mechanic's point of view.

[Edward64]

Today's letters from Delta pilot wives ...

Delta Air Lines: Workers should unite vs. management

It is a shame that a Delta mechanic's anger is directed at the airline's pilots ("Don't give in to egomaniacal pilots," Letters, Feb. 25). The real blame lies with the undeniable mismanagement that we paid so dearly for with the likes of Leo Mullin and his team.

As a Delta pilot, my husband is responsible for up to 800 souls every day he goes to work. He lives with the knowledge that a miscalculation on his part could end not only his career but many lives. He has spent every major holiday away from his family to ensure that others make it to theirs safely. He undergoes two physicals a year and knows that he must retire at 60, regardless of his abilities.

My husband has approached every pay cut, starting after Sept. 11, with dignity and altruism. He has sympathetically given every month to the furlough fund for pilots who have lost their jobs.

Perhaps the mechanic should learn to be proud of his own profession and stand with the pilots in demanding that management earn what it has been so freely taking from others. It seems to me that he is the only crybaby.

JAMIE Mxxx, Alpharetta

Lofty status gone amid infighting

Once upon a time, Delta was a wonderful airline that was looked upon as the epitome of places to work in aviation. To work there in any capacity was an honor.

Even though the airline was not No. 1, the public looked upon it as No. 1 in service, professionalism, safety and character. It had a culture that people in the business world admired and tried to copy.

What happened? Now the remaining Delta employees are bickering and sniping at one another in public. Great employees are quitting and finding other careers, tiring of being told one thing, then hearing another. Lifetime employees have had their pensions all but taken.

This is a business whose employees give up holidays, family and friends to get the job done. Pilots have suffered in public the dissection of their salaries, executives have pulled the safety line on their golden parachutes and families of all of these employees strive every day to put this all back together. The people of Delta, and Atlanta, want their airline back. The only way this will happen is to get that culture back.

MARY ANNE Pxxx, of Suwanee, is the wife of a Delta Air Lines pilot.

Executives take toll on cohesion

It has been sad to see Delta Air Lines employees and retirees rip one another apart. Until the past few years, Delta was the envy of many companies when it came to a loyal and cohesive employee team.

In the late 1990s, Delta initiated a program to keep unionism from growing in the company. One of the strategies implemented was to turn employee groups against one another, figuring that such feuds would sap the organizing strength of all involved.

Unfortunately, the plan to turn mechanics against pilots and flight attendants against gate agents worked very well. Morale declined, communication ceased and employee groups began to protect their own at the expense of the company as a whole.

Today, the blame game continues long after the executives involved have left the area with multimillion-dollar severance packages. Their lasting legacy has been employee infighting and the bankruptcy proceedings that endure.

Instead of working and drawing together to save their company, the Delta family continues to pull itself apart. Delta will become a business-school case study of lost opportunity and squandered esprit de corps.

BOB Pxxx, Brooks