On this Labor Day special episode of Engage, host First Officer Ryan Argenta gets together with legacy pilots First Officer David Adler, MEC Secretary, and Captain Brian Kolbus to discuss where we’ve been and where we need to go as a pilot group as our industry continues to change and shift in new and significant ways. Highlighting important lessons learned from previous contracts and major events; how important it is to support one another through pilot unity and how that unity has seriously moved the needle on negotiations; and a few war stories from earlier days, including the Northwest Airlines strike of 1998. This episode is a tribute to those who have endured tumultuous times throughout their careers, sacrificing their time, energy, and effort to secure the future of aviation at Delta Air Lines and beyond – for that, we thank you. On this Labor Day, we reflect and pay homage to the past while recognizing that Delta pilots are at a critical juncture in securing our future at Delta Air Lines. We are One Union, 14,000 Strong: This Is Our Time
(Recorded May 19 and August 17, 2022)



E17: This Is Our Time: Unionism, Pilot Unity, and Our Future at Delta

Engage is a product of the Delta Air Lines ALPA Master Executive Council Communications Committee. Delivering important news, information and updates, the podcast touches on all areas of being a pilot at Delta Air Lines, with an emphasis on upcoming contract negotiations and quality of life for Delta pilots.

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in the spirit of pilot mental health, First Officer Forrest Pendleton, Chair of the Pilot Assistance Network (PAN), discusses the rollout of the “Are You in the Green?” campaign to assist pilots (and all humans) in identifying their own mental wellness.  Forrest walks us through the mental health continuum and offers insight on who pilots can turn to when they’re just not feeling great.  Forrest also goes into detail about the FAA Aviation Rulemaking Committee’s recommendations on improving mental health issues and making it easier for pilots to get the help they need while keeping their medical intact or more streamlined and defined steps to regain one’s FAA medical.  For more information, please visit www.alpa.org/green  
Helping pilots and their families manage everything from day-to-day pressures and challenges to training stress to family issues to mental and physical health issues to FAA medical questions, PAN is made up of more than 40 Delta pilot volunteers who answer a 24/7 hotline. PAN is a committee within the Delta MEC and was specifically created to help Delta pilots facing physiological, psychological, and medical concerns or for those needing to talk to someone. For more information, please visit the PAN webpage on the Delta MEC website at https://dal.alpa.org/Topics/PILOT-ASSISTANCE/Pilot-Assistance-Network. 
 
PAN’s goal is to help mitigate the threats that sometimes put our medical certificates, our pay, and our very jobs at risk. To speak with a trained peer volunteer, call PAN at 888-4-DAL-PAN (888-432-5726) or submit a callback request here.  Calls to PAN are absolutely confidential.  (Recorded May 3, 2024) 



E47: PAN: Are You in the Green?

On this episode of Engage, we welcome Mr. Jim Starnes from Delta Flight Control Dispatch to discuss all things Dispatch-related. Did you know Delta Dispatchers are union members represented by the Professional Airline Flight Control Association (PAFCA)? Jim Starnes is the First Vice President of PAFCA and discusses the many similarities between pilots and dispatchers: commonly addressed issues with management, contract negotiations, seniority, and even bidding for monthly schedules—we have more in common with our Dispatchers than we may know. Host First Officer Ryan Argenta also asks common questions pilots have for Dispatch and learns more about our unseen siblings in Atlanta. Jim even offers pilots the opportunity to coordinate a tour of Flight Control Dispatch by contacting him directly—details within. Tune in to learn about this fascinating profession and how we can work together with our fellow employees on the ground. (Recorded December 14, 2023)



E46: A Chat with Dispatch: Pilot Questions Asked and Answered

On this episode of Engage, Captain Ian Turner of the Scheduling Committee and Captain Rich Wheeler, the Chairman of the Negotiating Committee, explain how Voluntary Airport Standby (VAS) works. Discussion includes details of the completely voluntary program, how it prevents unwanted reroutes, and the lucrative pay treatments for both Regular and Reserve pilots. Tune in to learn more about VAS.  (Recorded January 22, 2024) 



E45: Voluntary Airport Standby (VAS)

On this episode of Engage, Captain Ian Turner of the Scheduling Committee and Captain Rich Wheeler, Chairman of the Negotiating Committee, are back again to discuss new contract implementation items that started in January 2024 beyond pay rate and 401(k) DC contribution increases. The group discusses new items such as improved sit pay provisions and increase to training pay for CQ and Recency type events, training golden days, new theater qualification provisions that provide pilots more flexibility, along with a completely new feature for pilots bidding reserve called “Reserve with Conflict” – a unique enhancement for Reserve pilots. Rich and Ian explain how pilots may want to use this new voluntary feature, RWC, to their advantage. They also discuss contract interpretation issues and clarify how ALPA and the Company are working to resolve these issues. (Recorded January 22, 2024) 
Resources:
Negotiator's Notepad 24-01: 
NN-24-01.pdf (alpa.org)

  



E44: New Contract Implementation & Interpretation

On this special edition episode of Engage, Captain Rich Wheeler, Chairman of the Negotiating Committee, and Captain Eric Criswell, former Chairman of the Negotiating Committee, talk about profit sharing.  From its origin and roots to this year’s profit sharing payout, Rich, Eric, and Ryan discuss how profit sharing was negotiated by pilots in 1996; how it has changed over the years and the need to preserve this negotiated benefit that pilots and all employees now enjoy; how profit sharing is contractually calculated using PTIX and specific formulas; and how pilots can view their earnings and ensure their 2023 profit sharing payout is accurate. Happy Profit Sharing Day!
 (Recorded January 23, 2024) 



E17: This Is Our Time: Unionism, Pilot Unity, and Our Future at Delta

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