Talk of the Town

By Derek Nixson

September 22, 2005 08:58 AM | Link to this

Poor management for so many years is the impetus for these cuts.

Not enough cuts, early enough.

What little “pleasant” customer service there was will surely be eroded to nil.

By DeltaFan505

September 22, 2005 09:04 AM | Link to this

It’s disheartening for Delta and the City of Atlanta to lose so many jobs. However, one should admire Grinstein for his own large pay cut as well—he now makes far less than other CEOs in a similar role. Grinstein has shown considerably more business ethics than Leo Mullin. Leo Mullin should be ashamed to ever be associated with Delta, after his horrid actions as CEO. His executive pay alone could pay many salaries that are currently being lost by the job cuts. Mullin and his McKinsey/Harvard background present the worst of corporate governance and showed faint concern for Delta’s current woes.

By deedubya

September 22, 2005 09:09 AM | Link to this

It is sad. It is sad everywhere. My husband, a county government employee, is having his benefits slashes to pieces next year by the most affluent county in georgia. We have gone back a hundred years. Workers have no rights, no benefits, no raises and no hope. But you better believe companies are making a profit. They are just not gonna share anymore with their employees.

By Janet

September 22, 2005 09:10 AM | Link to this

With Delta now at the bottom of the pay scale amohg the industry, there is only one way to go and that is UP!

By Dan

September 22, 2005 09:15 AM | Link to this

They deserve it. Their service stinks. Their employees are a bunch of overpaid crybabies. Welcome to the real world Delta.

By Johnny Reins

September 22, 2005 09:19 AM | Link to this

I am a Delta ramp employee who will be losing their job. I’ve wasted 15 years of my life with Delta. The “little” people have stood by as Delta management raped this company, hoping it would get better. Delta will not be merging senority, if your on the ramp in PHX and other cities…you’re gone. Customer service will suffer! Please people stop flying Delta! The only way to cure the cancer at Delta is for top, middle and lower management to be out looking for jobs like the rest of us.

By Laura

September 22, 2005 09:20 AM | Link to this

I think EVERYBODY in upper management should be terminated without their golden parachutes. Delta should reorganize as an employee owned business because previous and existing management are parasitic, feeding from its host and ultimately killing it.

I also believe that upper management should sacrifice their pension benefits and give it to the people that have really earned it - the employees of Delta.

By DB

September 22, 2005 09:29 AM | Link to this

My prayers go out to the employees… I truly know how it feels because I was downsized out of a job; not once, but twice in a 3 year time span. Just freshen up your resume and start looking for a new job before the ax comes down on you.

By Wilma

September 22, 2005 09:36 AM | Link to this

Too much big pay for top executives. I cannot phantom how they get paid millions to one day step in their jobs and the next day step out of their jobs. I think there should be some law against that and I feel that money should be taken back from them to provide for all of these families that are losing their livelihoods because of the greed of others. So much injustice with Delta’s system….

By E. Lewis

September 22, 2005 09:39 AM | Link to this

Will they be cutting back on the salaries, bonuses, golden parachutes and other very expensive $$$$ offered to managaement?

By Louis

September 22, 2005 09:56 AM | Link to this

I dont understand how they can cut the front line employees again. We havent had a pay raise in over 12 years and I know that I have never had a cost of living allowance. They need to get rid of all there vice presidents. What company needs over 50 vice presidents. But I am glad to see that our CEO is steppin up and takin a large paycut. And if I am one that looses my job, I just want to say I really enjoyed workin for Delta and that I am a second generation employee.

By Bob

September 22, 2005 10:04 AM | Link to this

See what happens when you contract out aircraft maintenance! I.E. JetBlue.

By Bob

September 22, 2005 10:10 AM | Link to this

By red

September 22, 2005 10:16 AM | Link to this

Delta paid too many people too much money for a long time. They had to have the top salaries and had to be the best in everything. There’s a life lesson to be learn here.

By Bobb

September 22, 2005 10:19 AM | Link to this

You know, I sit here and read all the invective directed towards Delta and just wonder if any of you have a clue as to what this company has meant to Atlanta, Georgia, and the whole southeastern United States for that matter. Atlanta would be just another former rail center without Delta’s decades long effort to make it a major air transportation center that has helped this place grow from southern town to a modern center of commerce. For over SEVENTY FIVE YEARS Delta has been an upstanding citizen, customer, service provider, and friend to this community. You can take all your executive pay, golden parachute, and “welcome to the real world Delta” garbage and put it somewhere out of the sun. The PEOPLE of Delta and it’s loyal friends will see it through for another 75 years.

By John

September 22, 2005 10:20 AM | Link to this

Geez, give the company a break. I am a million miler and I admit that service is not what it used to be. But don’t bash Grinstein for having to play the cards he was dealt. These problems go back to Ron Allen and that epitome of corporate greed, Leo Mullin. At least Grinstein — who I am sure would rather be sitting on some beach somewhere enjoying his retirement — is taking the steps necessary to return the company to its former status as the best airline around. Stop bashing the company and stop telling everyone to quit flying Delta. Don’t all of you realize that Atlanta wouldn’t be Atlanta without Hartsfieid, and Hartsfield wouldn’t be Hartsfield without Delta. Delta has supported this city for 75 years and now is the time for Atlantans to rally around the company and commit to support its transformation just like Delta has supported its community for decades.

By John

September 22, 2005 10:28 AM | Link to this

Is that what they teach in colleges now days, cut employees and salaries. I was tought to charge enough for my product to cover my cost and make a profit. It is a sad when it is cheaper to fly somewhere than it is to buy gas and drive yourself. Good for the comsumer for the short time, but after jobs and revenue lost, not such a good idea is it.

By Jim

September 22, 2005 10:28 AM | Link to this

Delta is what it is… an American corporation, and any one that works for one should know that they are not immune to an industry shift. Diversification is key to protecting a family’s income these days. Never allowing ourselves to get comfortable with one income stream is essential for maintaining our family’s security. Delta has been good for my family, but now it is time to shift the burden over to other ventures. Life happens.. be prepared.

By delta fa

September 22, 2005 10:31 AM | Link to this

I would like to address those people who are rejoicing to see loyal employees unemployed as well as others lower paid and probably pensionless. I am curious about 2 things…what YOU do for a living and how secure your future is in this world of outsourcing and wanting high quality for low prices? Do all the employees have a good attitude? No, but in their defense, we have seen 2 previous management teams reward themselves greatly for bad decisions that have brought us here. As to being overpaid, I would imagine that anyone out there who has worked for a company for 10-15 years makes more than our front line employees AND are not responsible for people’s lives in their day to day operations. It is a sad time that we never fathomed would come but Delta people are great and will survive and thrive while the management that profited while bringing us to our knees will be coming to a company near you

By tia lewis

September 22, 2005 10:32 AM | Link to this

It doesn’t matter if delta gives its employees an additional 7-10% paycut. All delt will do is turn around and give these employees overtime. I have quite a few friends who work for delta, and they make more than they did before the 10% pay cut, because of all of the overtime that’s been offered. Why give a pay reduction then turn around and pay all this overtime. My friends on average work and addition 25-30 hors a week in overtime, making $28-30 a hour. Look at this!! These ramp agents, they take a week…a week people once a month to go out of the country, and this isn’t even there scheduled vacation time. Not every two months, not every three months…But once a month!!! I know many people who would love to havethere jobs and who would work hard, making half of what they are earning. I say give them a 25% cut like some of the other airlines that filed bankruptcy. If they dont like it…fire them!!! there are plenty of people who are willing to do what they do. Why pay one guy up to $30 a hour, when you can hire three people to do the same task. why keep people who take vaction time once a month and then there 2-3 week vacation time, when you could hire people, who know first hand what it’s like to be fortunate enough to haave a job, and would appreciate it, and not take off at every whim.

By patti schade

September 22, 2005 10:50 AM | Link to this

What the entire airline needs is to cease paying pilots and flight attendants full-time salaries for part-time work. My husband works 40 hours per week and nets the same annual salary as a majority of the flight attendants who work maybe 25 hours per week. What a travesty that the airlines feel that the average aviation tech, who often holds a 4-year degree in addition to an A&P license, should receive less compensation than a flight attendant who serves drinks and passes out peanuts 25 hours per week.

By jm

September 22, 2005 11:01 AM | Link to this

I joined Delta at the end of the fat years (late 80’s). It was obvious at that time we had too many people employed. When the former elitist regime noted in 2000 that our chief competition was Southwest, they reacted too slowly to what steps we needed to take. Current upper management has taken appropriate steps but there are a lot of idiots in charge between them and the frontline. We may make it but there’s been no good news for five years.

By Wrenchy

September 22, 2005 11:13 AM | Link to this

Im a Delta emp. and I just came from a briefing about the upcoming changes. Sure it will sting a little with the paycut but overall its a great plan. Kudos to the executive committee for implementing it. The morale in the meeting was good…everyone was expecting worse. I see alot of negative comments on here but it seems that these people are not employees of Delta. We will emerge from this and once again be No. 1 in the industry.

By David

September 22, 2005 11:16 AM | Link to this

It is very sad that Delta a once proud company could fall so far. Both the employees and stockholders should dend a collective “Thanks ” to the asleep at the wheel board of directors, as they were the brain trust which approved the sel-serving decisions of the Leo Mullin era. Makes one wonder what would make someone sell out there judgement for free flights and the stipend to attend board meetings. Jetblue, Southwest and Airtran were able to fly profitably during these times of high fuel prices. None of these company,s provide there ceo’s with bankruptcy proof pensions. Get the message??

By kupe

September 22, 2005 11:25 AM | Link to this

Patti Schade wrote:

What the entire airline needs is to cease paying pilots >and flight attendants full-time salaries for part-time work.

I’m sure you know better. But if not, here goes: In general, for a pilot or flight attendant to fly, say, 80 hours in a month, requires about twice that amount of time actually on-duty. In this case, about 160 hours. Does that sound famliliar? It should- there’s your four 40-hour work weeks- just like your husband.

The reason for this is that pilots and flight attendants are only paid when the aircraft is in motion- not for preflight and postflight duties, briefings, and the much-hated unpaid sit time between flights.

But here’s the kicker- at the end of the day, they don’t go home- they go to the Holiday Inn at the airport where they’ll spend many holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, you name it. All told, it takes about 250-300 hours per month on-the-road to generate those 80 payable flight hours.

“Part-time” indeed. Not.

BTW- almost all Delta Flight Attendants have Bachelor’s Degrees and almost all Delta Pilots have Master’s Degrees.

By Larry Allen

September 22, 2005 11:25 AM | Link to this

The whole state of Georgia should support Delat. These are hard times for the industry. Delta has been a great asset to the state. The loss of Delta would be a great loss to the region. We need a strong thriving company once again with Delta.

By Clay

September 22, 2005 11:33 AM | Link to this

Hey Bob and John, Atlanta is not the city it is today because of Delta. Atlanta is the city it is today because of Coca-Cola. Delta was not founded in Atlanta (just like Coca-Cola was invented in Columbus, GA, but the company got off the ground in Atlanta). The airport we have today is thanks to Mayor Hartsfield. If it hadn’t been Delta, it would have been another airline. But, there never has been another Coca-Cola.

By LAP

September 22, 2005 12:27 PM | Link to this

To the highly intelligent person making comments regarding the pay that a “flight attendant who serves drinks and passes out peanuts 25 hours per week” receives, you obviously are not bright enough to understand what flight attendants actually do for a living. Did you forget that just a short time ago the “drink and peanut serving attendantsâ€? saved hundreds of lives by evacuating in record time, a plane full of passengers that skidded off the runway upon landing, just seconds before it burst into flame? As to the hours they work, it is the government that mandates the hours, not the airlines or the employees. Get a clue and stop bashing the employees who are simply doing their job they way are told they have to do it. And no… I am NOT a flight attendant just a person who is a frequent flyer on several airlines and who hates to see people denigrated for things over which they have no control.

By Lara

September 22, 2005 12:28 PM | Link to this

It is sad that a bunch of greedy execs have allowed Delta to end up in this predicament. This is a perfect example of why companies have so much trouble finding employees who are willing to stick around for more than 5 years. There are so many people within Delta that have 30+ years with the company, those people have put their blood, sweat and tears into the airline. Many have had the false belief that Delta would ALWAYS be there for them as they have been for Delta, working endless hours, 7 day weeks, etc. Those who have retired are finding themselves with what was once a sound retirement plan being now, at the least, uncertain. What a dismal reward for years of loyalty. Fear not, there is life after Delta, but take with you the lesson that a job is only a job and you are just a number to those who have prospered at a grave expense to both you and Delta.

By Bill

September 22, 2005 12:28 PM | Link to this

PEOPLE. This city would be nothing if not for a handful of employers. And Delta is definitely one of them. That company has taken this city far beyond what it would have been considering some of the administrations that have led this city. I’m not one for government protection for corporations. If recovery is possible, and I for one believe it is, Delta and it’s management and employees will take care of their business at hand. Sure, it’ll be a hard road, the company may end up smaller, but it will still be Delta. (and still MY choice)

By Brian

September 22, 2005 12:30 PM | Link to this

Over paid workers?? The frontline employes get paid peanuts I have work for Delta for alomst 4 years i think I make about 11 an hour havent had a reise in 2 years and cost of living increase is no where to be seen you live in Atanta, Miami or Huntsivlle you are paid the same. If I had a family to support I could do it working for Delta. Hey Leo I hope someone prosecutes you or SUES you for what you did to Delta and its employees. I am now working for GrayHound Bus with wings!

By Diane

September 22, 2005 12:32 PM | Link to this

To the Delta employees, I’ve been there, and you will recover after the initial shock on unemployment. And I don’t like to say this but I knew it was coming.

By Don

September 22, 2005 12:45 PM | Link to this

Go buy a clue from WalMart Patti-don’t be so ignorant to think that flightcrews work “part-time”. Get off your backside and try going around the country with them and see just how much you really work. Crews only get paid while the airplane is moving—which in Jane Six Pack lingo you can understand equals much more than your precious 40 hour week. A forty hour week and being home with my family in my own bed every night would be a vacation.

By David

September 22, 2005 12:49 PM | Link to this

So, so SAD ! Such a good, no great, airline for a long time (until greedy management made to many errors). But for those of you still employeed, be thankful. I’m unemployed (after 33 yrs with corporate america) and am now struggling to find a reliable job in order to maintain my frugal life style.

By fltattspouse

September 22, 2005 12:51 PM | Link to this

Cousin Leo and some other overpriced knuckle-heads should be forced by the court to pay back the bankruptst-proof fundings. My wife falls in the retired-early after 9/11 so the article today was most disquieting -ins. and pens. wise.

If I were licensed to practice Federal law - I would file a brief asking the court to insure the stipulations given to and for early retirement folks were left in place and honored by Delta.

By Nate

September 22, 2005 12:53 PM | Link to this

I am very sad to see this happen. Unfortunately many good people will be without jobs and probably most of them are the least to blame.

However, the previous executives, the pilots, flight attendants and mechanics unions are all to blame for their situation. When times were good everyone of them wanted their share of the profits and none of them were willing to safeguard their longterm security. The executives were criminals and the unions, who were supposed to look after their members, negotiated the top contracts for the day in exchange for protecting their safety for the future. They all took an “I want mine” attitude and it killed them. I am sorry but they are ALL to blame for their plight.

By Jake

September 22, 2005 01:05 PM | Link to this

With the highest paid pilots in the industry, baggage handlers making more than cops and firemen, before tips, and outrageous executive pay and bonuses, they’re getting what they deserve. … Loyalty is a meaningless term in the present economy and has been for 15 or 20 years now. This applies to the company, the employees, and the customers. All jobs are temporary, unless you work at the Post Office!

By Son of Delta retiree

September 22, 2005 01:06 PM | Link to this

For many years Delta and all of the other airlines were allowed to skip around the free market do in part to government regulation. Now that deregulation has come (where we should have been to start with) those organizations like the big telecoms and railroads are is in a state of flux. When free enterprise is put into play the system works to every ones advantage. The only problem here is that thousand will have the life’s work and planning flushed down the toilet due to previous government intervention and bad management. And those employees that worked their entire life to make Delta a success in the past will be pushed aside to make sure some creditor who was looking to make millions in interest on high risk loans will be paid before the people who trusted Delta with their life’s blood.

By Aubrey Kinnaman

September 22, 2005 01:10 PM | Link to this

Didn’t these employees just take 10% pay cuts? Now they want them to take another. Their corporate employees can’t be making near enough for what they do. I’m assuming they will keep on their co-ops. That is almost free labor.

By R.E.G.

September 22, 2005 01:11 PM | Link to this

Has it occurred to any of you, that this devastation of so many of our blue-chip companies has been “inversely� related to the rise in Republican Representation at the State and Federal Legislative Levels? In-addition, just as with each Republican Administration in the White House, worker benefits, job-security, and confidence in our political leadership to reverse such trends is diminished.

Republican Administrations and Republican controlled Legislators are a destroyer of nations, worker benefits, job-security, and the peoples’ confidence in our political, business, and social institutions.

I have witnessed this regression in our institutions noted above, time and time again in my 40 years in the job market, and I don’t need some Blue Ribbon Commission to identify these facts for me.

Contrary to what Republicans and their Proponents would have you believe, their history in office since the Fifties (Eisenhower Error), has been a failure with respect to the critical aspects of our nation as noted above.

Again, Contrary to what Republicans and their Proponents would have you believe, that Criminal family that runs Saudi Arabia, and their investment of nearly $900,000,000,000.00 in our economy and/or its investment instruments, is not a full-employment policy.

Also, I wonder how many of Delta’s employees vote Republican on a regular bases? I hear Peachtree City has a heavy Republican base.

By Jim

September 22, 2005 01:52 PM | Link to this

As a 29 year employee of Delta, I can’t help but notice how many people are kicking us while we’re down…being called everything from spoiled to crybabies, as one person put it. We were only paid what the industry called for; sometimes less. As far as our service,our customer service standards began dropping when our hiring standards went down the toilet. It took me two years of badgering the employment office to get hired; now they are hiring anyone with a pulse…many from the “ME generation”. The traveling public needs to help as well. Quit making reservations you aren’t going to keep, and we’ll quit overbooking flights. If you miss a concert, you don’t get your money back. When you go to a sporting event, the food and beer isn’t included is it? All the airlines are contracted to do is get you from point A to point B SAFELY. We at Delta helped keep this city on the map, along with many other fine companies based here…now help us by supporting us at this difficult time. You WILL be rewarded with a much better Delta…a Delta you remember from “the good ol’ days”!

By Long overdue

September 22, 2005 02:09 PM | Link to this

Delta deserves to go under. That cutback whining is only for show and in reality is only on the backs of the hourly employees. It was not even felt by management and pilots. The last cutback only meant the pilots had to cut back one day of overtime a month. As recently as a few months ago Delta hired 2 young accountants with salaries of a half million apiece. Any company giving away these excessive salaries and outrageous perks is not serious about staying in business. This cutback stuff is just a bunch of show for the media.

By Bill

September 22, 2005 02:14 PM | Link to this

I have just reading some of the comments that were posted about Delta and I don’t understand the ignorance of some people. Patty Schade complained about flight attendants making so much money and only working 25 hours per week. She needs to do some homework. My wife is a Delta F/A for the past 25 years, and she leaves home on Tuesday each week at 2:45A.M. to go to her job at delta, she flies all over the country, spends two nights in a hotel with an average stay of 6 to 7 hours and arrives back home on Thursday evening about 6 P.M. She doesn’t get paid until the plane pushes back from the gate, and she doesn’t get paid while it is parked at the next gate. She is gone from home 60 to 70 hours per week but only gets paid for the time that the plane is in the air. If you don’t know what you are talking about, you should learn before you shoot your mouth off. Most Delta employees are good loyal employees who care very much about their airlines. They are not responsible for the greed of Leo Mullin or Ron Allen. There should be some way to recoup the money that these men took for doing a less than stellar job.

By Ternt

September 22, 2005 02:15 PM | Link to this

Its sad to see so much negitive enegry put into some of the responses. Delta was and will be a great company. They have a lot of LEACHES but they will be cut loose. They need to quit worrying about how many of what color is in a particular managment position and hire people who care about the company. PHX RAMP GUY, you should lose your job. You should have moved to ATL and aspired for something more then a ramp worker after 15 yrs.

By Frank

September 22, 2005 02:19 PM | Link to this

I can’t believe the blame game I read here. I worked for Delta most of my life during great times. During those times, Delta and their employees contributed greaty to Atlanta. Whatever or whomever happened to her, she now is in deep trouble. Atlantians now abandon her. I hope that when she gets on her feet, she will move all her headquarters to Boston where she is appreciated. Atlantians, next time you want to go to Europe, fly Southwest, or Airtran, or Jetblue, anyone but Delta! I’ll be glad you did!

By PDR

September 22, 2005 02:25 PM | Link to this

For those of you in Atlanta or any other major city for that matter, you can keep right on flying Airtran or Jet Blue or even Southwest. But remember, it is airlines like Delta that have made the commitment to fly to those obscure little cities that the discounters won’t fly to. They can’t make a profit flying from Valdosta or Albany Ga for $ 49.95. It is the passengers in the rural parts of the country that really suffer when the legacy carriers such as Delta are hurting. I ask you big city folks how much it would hurt you if delta ceased operations and you say none. Ask those residents in places like Albany, Chattanooga, Augusta, Columbus, Brunswick, Valdosta, or any other small city across the southeast. I tell you that competition is a welcome thing. It’s the discounters that are benefiting from the feeder airlines that Delta has and ultimitely killing Delta. Fly Delta from the hubd on those routes that they are cometing with discounters. Deltadoes value their customers and invest the time and money to take care of them. live long and prosper Delta!

By Brian

September 22, 2005 02:33 PM | Link to this

Thanks Jim.

I agree…the airline industry is the only place I know that your ticket is still good after you failed to show up. Try taking your unused ticket to last years Superbowl game to this years game.

I too have invested almost 20years here….I pray that those employees that choose to stay will make a genuine effort to work hard to bring Delta back to the top….yes it sux BIG TIME right now…..but it is gut-check time …..be part of the solution, not part of the problem. If you are not up to it, noone will think bad of you. Thank you for being here and you will be missed.

By Wife of Employee

September 22, 2005 02:38 PM | Link to this

To Nate: Delta Mechanics have never been Union - only pilots and flight attendants. Mechanics thought they were doing the right thing by voting against the Union to show they suppported the company as a whole. So much for that, Mechanics will hurt more from this than the pilots ever will.

For those of you badgering Delta employees, I guess none of these employees have ever shopped in your store, ate at your restaurant, or purchased services from you - otherwise you wouldn’t be so happy about their paycuts. The demise of this company will greatly affect everyone in the Atlanta area.

By jim3480

September 22, 2005 02:50 PM | Link to this

I truly feel bad for those whose families are about to be negatively impacted by these very unfortunate events. That being said however, I feel I must counteract some of the whining on this blog from flight attendants/pilots about the rigors and “sacrifices” of flying for a living.

I have a relative who is a pilot at a major legacy carrier and my wife and I are often stunned by the incredible amount of perks and time off that this family enjoys by being an employee. I doubt the general public is really aware that immediate families of airline employees can fly anywhere, anytime in the country free of charge. This is a HUGE benefit, worth thousands of dollars per family, that someway, somehow, the public is probably paying for. Also, if I had one quarter of the amount of time that my relative has off…relaxing at home, getting things done, engaging in hobbies, participating in sports…well, I would think I died and went to heaven.

So c’mon folks, let’s be real. Yes, senior management has been very incompetent and politically tone-deaf when it comes to their own perks and compensation. But…the fault lies with both employees AND management. Even if management did everything perfectly, this day was coming sooner or later. Employees of airlines, many of them unskilled, cannot expect to continue making the kind of money/perks they enjoy forever. As for the pilots, flight attendants, machinists, etc…the general public, with all of the travails of the auto and airline industries are getting their eyes opened to the incredibly rich packages that union members have enjoyed for decades, and when they compare to what they get, it is making people angry, and as a result, unions continue to decline in the eyes of the public.

I know this is frustrating and upsetting to Delta employees, but unfortunately, comparing what one has to someone else is just human nature and a hallmark of our capitalist system which worships those with money above all. Kind of the same way you are all upset at management making millions and enjoying golden parachutes. You wish you had what they had. What goes around, comes around.

By bob

September 22, 2005 02:57 PM | Link to this

You asked for my comments, and as a Frequent Flyer member, as well as

a retired

Delta pilot, here they are :

My heart was broken to read the banner headlines of the demise of the greatest airline in the world. My feelings of sadness were mixed with feelings of anger and frustration.

Since fully half of my pension is likely to be taken from me and my family, I feel like it is my right to say it like I see it

I was a Delta pilot from April, 1967 until April 1, 1997, when I took the early retirement package offered by the company. When I signed the paperwork, I thought that I was signing a personal contract that would be honored by the company that I worked loyally for 30 years. During those 30 years, fully two thirds of them were under competent leadership in management, who seemed to actually regard their hard working employees assets, instead of liabilities. Many times the Delta pilots, as well as the other dedicated employees stepped up to the plate to do what was necessary to get through various hard times. We even bought a damned 767 for Delta !! In return for our loyalty and sacrifices, along came Mr. Ron Allen, who, in my humble opinion, started the demise of the “Delta Family” concept with his onerous 7.5 program, his decisions regarding B-747’s, the purchase of Pam Am assets at a ridiculously high price, and his cutting the heart out of the senior Delta employees who had made the air line what it was. All of us had fond memories of Mr. C.E. Woolman and his heroic efforts in founding and building our great company, on the premise of taking care of the employees and their families. Ron’s abuse finally caught up with him and he was removed, albeit with handsome parting gifts of a $500,000 per year salary for “consulting” , that just ended last year. I am sure that there were many other undisclosed perks as well. I’m sure that this was a reward for his singlehanded destruction of employee morale and motivation. He was a master at turning employee groups against each other, especially against the pilot group. He was also a master at disguising his failures by making the pilots the “black hats” and blaming them for everything that went wrong. It is interesting that every contract that the pilots signed over the years had the signatures of management as well as the pilot negotiators.

Then, along came Mr. Leo Mullin and his “gang of thieves”. If you think that I am being too harsh in my language……what would you call a group of 35 incompetent management types who presided over the worst deterioration of a company in air line history ? To top off their malfeasance, they conspired to secretly award themselves handsome, tax-paid, bankruptcy proof pensions, even though many of them had little time with the company. All of this while Leo was demanding draconian cuts from the pilots and other Delta employees. While “legal”, this stunk like the waters that fill New Orleans after Katrina. They tried to hide this little theft of company funds to the tune of $60 million, by claiming it to be necessary to retain these “key” individuals…….as if they were being courted by all the other troubled air lines in the country. ( Isn’t it interesting that not one of them is still on the Delta property ? )

I hope that none of them are able to sleep at night as long as they live. They abandoned a dying great airline, leaving the REAL dedicated, loyal employees to fend against the coming storm of 9/11, fuel costs, and weather related attacks in such a weakened state that not even massive concessions from them could save it.

I have mixed emotions towards Mr. Grinstein. On the one hand, I admire him for trying to save a sinking ship in almost impossible shape, but on the other recognizing that he was a member of the Delta Board of Directors, who installed Mullin as our leader….

I am sick to my stomach, not only for the demise of our great Delta Air Lines, but for the hardships that this will cause thousands of present and retired employees, just because, using a quote from the movie ,” Animal House”……..”We screwed up…..we trusted them !” The callous disregard of the thousands of Delta employees and their families should hang over all their heads for the rest of their lives and I hope they choke on their ill-gotten gains. For those of us who had long, enjoyable careers with the best air line company in the world……we will now pay for that privilege by losing a large part of our promised and contractually obtained pensions. It just illustrates to me, that, once again……..The only constant that can be trusted in our world is God, everything else is fleeting and unreliable. Everything we have can be taken from us in a twinkling of an eye, by a terrorist bomb, or a hurricane named Katrina. We should be thankful for all the blessings that we have, for there are many. So I and my family will move on, as will all the other Delta employees………why ? Because we have no choice ! I , for one, have relearned to be very careful in whom I put my trust in this world. Delta, you were a good old girl……….you will be missed by many of us.

I will try and remember you as you were…..with all the good people that I had the privilege to work with for 30 years.

In memoriam

Capt Bob Lawrence

Delta Air Lines (Retired)

By Lisa

September 22, 2005 03:04 PM | Link to this

As a now former f/a with DAL, I would like to point out to Patti and the other Delta haters, Delta was hiring, why didn’t you join up if it was such easy, part time work? Sure, we have such an easy lifestyle :) I work at least 200 hrs a month on an easy month…For the pilot haters, they too work longer hours than given credit. The fed government mandates the amount of hours that Part 121 (commercial) air crews can fly. Now, take that and evaluate it. As for pay, pay for a f/a is justified and for pilots…not these pay cuts. After yesterday’s event with Jet Blue aren’t overly qualified pilots worth their weight in gold? And as for the f/a, what about the AWESOME job f/as did getting all of the Air France people off the plane in Toronto. You see, we’re much more than peanuts and cokes and “overpaid”. As for the bosses, wheee!!!! you took a pay cut. Would you like me to teach your families how to cut coupons? I live within my means but hey another pay cut? How about the pilot families now looking at a 50% pay cut (in total don’t yell)while you all are taking 25% for Big Boss and 15 % others. Amazing, I thought that we would share the cuts together.

Just my 2 cents( well earned and about the be taken away) worth.

By Glenn

September 22, 2005 03:06 PM | Link to this

I’m a Delta pilot… LOL!!… Yes the much maligned, much hated symbol for all that’s wrong in the air line industry… While I was sitting on my yacht yesterday afternoon having my Ferrari detailed, I was watching the Jet Blue pilot flawlessly flying his crippled aircraft onto the runway at LAX. At the same time my plumber was at the house retrieving my wife’s 3 carat diamond ring that she had dropped down the kitchen sink. As I was having my butler read the latest Delta news asking for an additional 19.5% of my pay (in addition to the 32.5% I gave 10 months ago) I was struck by the fact that my plumber’s hourly rate was $10 more than the Jet Blue pilot’s. Of course, both the Jet Blue pilot and the plumber had lives in their hands… For the pilot, it was 138 souls relying upon his skill and experience to get that aircraft safely on the ground and for the plumber, it was me relying upon his skill and experience in retrieving my wife’s ring because if you’ve ever met my wife you’d know I’d be a dead man if I didn’t get that ring back…. So American consumer… enjoy the demise of the air line industry and the cheap fares while you can because the ladies and gentlemen who have worked so hard for years to provide you safe and efficient air travel are not going to continue to put our lives on the line each and every day for the wages and benefits you seem to be willing to pay… We’re going to all become plumbers….

By Mrs. E

September 22, 2005 03:07 PM | Link to this

Jake: Your comment “… baggage handlers making more than cops and firemen, before tips” Are you kidding me? These “baggage handlers” you are talking about can only be the Skycaps that are not Delta employees but contracted workers who do depend on tips as their pay is very likely only minimum wage. They have families to support and bills to pay, too. The Delta ticket agents, gate agents, ramp agents (i.e., your seeming idea of baggage handlers) do not receive tips nor is their pay higher than police officers or firefighters unless they put in many, many hours of OT. Show me a Delta agent that lives in a million dollar home and I guarantee you that their spouse is bringing in the bucks, they just won the lottery, or inherited serious money.

Unless you are an employee or spouse of an employee, you have no clue about the pay scale, the lack of cost of living increases, 20+ years of no increases, merit or otherwise. These employees must work the overtime to make a decent living, to be able to assist our kids to get a better education so they don’t have to throw bags for a living. My husband is a 31 year Delta veteran who works 16 hours days, gives 110%, goes without breaks or lunch the majority of days, works most holidays, misses birthdays and special occasions, works with injuries (repeatedly worked with kidney stones due to lack of time to drink enough water), has to deal with the flying public treating them like they are second class citizens, and in spite of it all, STILL prays for Delta to pull through this.

Your assumptions of these employees are offensive. No one “deserves” to lose all they have due to mismanagement and corporate greed. Shame on you.

By Michael Davis

September 22, 2005 03:13 PM | Link to this

It has been very interesting reading so many different opinions regarding Delta. Clearly some of you that posted your comments don’t have a clue what your talking about, one for example is thinking flight attendants get paid full-time for working part time. I have been a flight attendant with Delta for 10-years, and I can tell you that is so far from the truth. Typically, flight attendants have worked fewer days because our days, unlike most other jobs range from 14 to 15 hours.
And to top things off, much of our time on duty goes unpaid, for example, we don’t start receiving flight pay until the aircraft door is closed, so all of the time we spend boarding and deplaning we are not on the clock. Additionally, we have to sign in on a computer an hour before domestic trips and an hour and a half before international ones; again, no pay until the door is closed. I say, we allow Delta to pay us $10 or $15 an hour from the time we arrive at the airport until the time we get back from a trip. That way we would be fairly compensated and not and surpass our present earnings. It’s time to stop providing free labor.

By 767pilot

September 22, 2005 03:20 PM | Link to this

To “long overdue” -

You need to educate yourself a little better before spouting off your rhetoric. Delta’s pilots have already taken a 32.5% paycut and with the new announcement will take an ADDITIONAL 19.5%. My W-2 will reflect a cut of over 50% of my pay from a year ago. When additional productivity and pension elimination is factored in, it’s probably closer to 2/3rds less total compensation.

I make no apology for expecting professional compensation for the 12 years of education, training, and internship required to qualify for this job, not to mention the cost that EXCEEDS that of most law or medical schools. I make NO apology for expecting appropriate compensation for the responsibility I accept for a 100 million dollar aircraft and hundreds of lives.

The sad result of gutted pilot compensation across the industry will ultimately be reflected in lower calibre individuals occupying cockpits, with the inevitable decline in safety margins that will result. Strap in, and hope for the best.

By Fred Kakil

September 22, 2005 03:21 PM | Link to this

Passengers have no problem with handing a limo driver $80 bucks for a ride from Alpharetta to Hartsfield. These same folks get upset about paying over $200 for a transcon flight. These same passengers want to treated with respect from ALL employees, sit in first class, leave early, get fed twice, free movie, smooth ride, clean airplanes, qualified flight crews, insured and maintained aircraft, arrive at destination early and skymiles too. How can an airline possibly compete with all of these customer expectations? Give Delta a break, Delta has been through many changes in the airline business, they began pre-regulation when the government dictated fares and all the hoops airlines had to jump through. Valujet/Airtran doesn’t own a thing, everything is rented or leased. Employees are overworked and starving, just so John Q. Public can just about fly for free. Isn’t it the American Dream that all can earn a respectable income. I don’t see other industries discounting their products below cost at a frezied pace. Look at all the burger joints, they all co-exist without slashing each others throats.

By AMT

September 22, 2005 03:26 PM | Link to this

To Nate and Wife of Employee;

There are only two groups of employees in unions at Delta, pilots and dispatchers. So keep blaming unions Nate and let us all here more of you intellect. Nothing like talking about something you know nothing about, you must be an executive.

By Michael Davis

September 22, 2005 03:29 PM | Link to this

I think the founding father of Delta Air Lines, Woolman, said it best. “you take care of your people and they will take care of you.” I think we can all agree you get what you pay for. So, don’t expect much more than a seat.

By Mike

September 22, 2005 03:36 PM | Link to this

Delta employees may not have deserved this, but this is the result of years of mismanagement by Delta brass. Grinstein should cut his pay to $30K or less, refues all other benefits, cancel all golden parachutes for any managagement team member if they still exist and have to suffer with the cuts like they have made the empoloyees fo for many year.

It is unfortunate that in our economy, mismanagement, greed and incompetence are rewarded (Mullin, Allen, etal.,) and the little guy suffers. May DAL rest in peace, as it will never be the airline or employer it once was.

By Heywood

September 22, 2005 03:40 PM | Link to this

I’m sure that those of you who have flown Delta for years as I have will agree that there has been a significant decrease in service and cutting salaries won’t help. But just keep this in mind if/when you fly Delta

D - doesn’t E - ever L - leave T - the A - airport

If the pilots and machinists were worth what Delta airlines was paying them the planes wouldn’t break-down as often nor would the planes be late leaving / arriving. I know plenty of machinists who’d gladly trade places and would do a sight better job for less money AND don’t hand me any sob pilot stories because I’ve logged plenty of hours left-seat and know what’s required of an ATP and you guys aren’t worth that much.

Now, I fully expect the pilots and machinists to jump up and justify the excessive salaries the unions negotiated for them, which have contributed to this company going belly-up. That’s in addition to the outrageously obscene compensation of Delta executives. Just another story of corporate greed and the guys upstairs sticking it to the little-guy so Mr. Executive can afford to keep his wife in the relative luxury that she’s become accustomed to.

Executing a massive layoff and then taking 7 percent of the earnings of those that are left probably won’t win the airline any new customers. Delta and the other big airlines need to take a long, hard look in the mirror because I don’t hear AirTran or Southwest asking for a federal bail-out.

Here’s a little advice from the nickel seats - don’t spend more than you make, don’t promise more than you can deliver and don’t take it if you don’t earn it and I highly doubt that Delta’s executives have earned it!!!!!!

By corndog

September 22, 2005 03:42 PM | Link to this

I teach school and we have been under a freeze for several years. We don’t even get a cost of living raise. All of us will have to tighten our belts and trim pleasures or find a different job.

By E. Lewis

September 22, 2005 03:42 PM | Link to this

tia_it’s all about the price of Delta stock. If the “cut” salries then the value of the stock will go up now. No one is looking at the long term costs anyway.

By CG

September 22, 2005 03:52 PM | Link to this

Delta has a very high retirement pension. They pay alot of money for there retirements. That is good. But you they have alot of other benefits. Their benefits should come in a packages. They can save money if they work out a plan with their employees, that will be a big life saver for everyone.

By Samson

September 22, 2005 03:57 PM | Link to this

What I hate is for people who have no clue on how an airline works to make uneducated statements about the airline and their employees.

The problem goes way back to when the company started mortgaging everything to stay afloat only to wind up in BK now instead of earlier, only to finance salaries of some groups whom were receiving pay raises throughout this whole process.

You get paid to do a job. If it requires that you are away from home during * *holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, you name it - then that’s what you do. I’m sure you were well aware of your commitment to this position when you decided to check that box! The playing field has changed and competition is the name of the game, **now you must deal with it!!

As for almost all Delta Flight Attendants have Bachelor’s Degrees and almost all Delta Pilots have Master’s Degrees - I would love to see your sources as my experience has proven otherwise!

Bottom line: Accept the changes or go replace your income somewhere else!!!

Many of the non-contract employees will go back to their early 1990’s salary – if not earlier! And they’ll have to decide if they should stay or go.

I always hate when they leave out the * *flight dispatchers * * when people talk about the unions at Delta!

By Jim Goodwin

September 22, 2005 03:58 PM | Link to this

No one could have said it better than Capt. Bob Lawrence. The money paid to these executives was so far out of line that we in the corporate world could not believe it. Example, Vickie Escarra (spelling may be wrong) was a flight attendent, worked her way up to some very high level position, Vice President of Customer Service, and was being paid $1.5 million a year. She had a driver bring her to the Delta office every day. She was the laughing stock of all the other flight attendents, who to a person could not understand how a former flight attendent could be paid that much money. Where else in the world could this person get a position paying that amount of money. I once wrote her about a problem I had and recieved no answer. When I finally did get as far as her secretary, I was told that she NEVER reads customers letters, just throws them in the trash, so why would I (or any other customer) expect an answer. And of course she escaped with an early retirement cash out. What a way to run a business??????????

By Alan

September 22, 2005 04:03 PM | Link to this

This is truly the beginning of the end. Management has destroyed this great company and nailed the coffin today. The 10% cut announced by Delta does not mention the 10-12 other areas of compensation that are being eliminated. The real figure is probably more like 30% on top of the 20-30% they took last time. NOTHING good will come from doing this to loyal employees who have already endured too much from clueless leadership!

By Mecq Tate

September 22, 2005 04:05 PM | Link to this

Delta is getting exactly what they deserve. They are the most arrogant airline in the business. They have consistently shown a lack of compassion for other airlines and a lack of respect for thier customers. The Golden Rule applies to all facets of life. Including business. Some of the Delta employees were so omnipotent that thier downfall was inevitable. You cannot mistreat your customers and expect to thrive. Arrogance is a sin and unfortunatley Delta sinned for a very long time. Now they have to bow down.

By Katie

September 22, 2005 04:05 PM | Link to this

Not everybody at Delta is overpaid and not every position can be easily replaced by someone willing to work for less. There are jobs that require experience for safety reasons. About a third of the engineers in charge of maintenance and repairs have left Delta because the pay wasn’t competitive. How many do you think are going to stick around after the 9% pay cut?

By Derek Nixson

September 22, 2005 04:05 PM | Link to this

For all of you who think Leo Mullin brought this company down, you should really be thinking about the BOARD MEMBERS who approved his hiring and then turned a blind while he lined his pockets and their pockets.

Don’t forget, Delta just recently stopped paying Ron Allen almost a million per year for “consulting services”. Get a clue people, the board approved these payments to keep his mouth shut. I will bet money that Ron Allen was never seen in the hallways of Delta while he collected those payments.

Sue the Board for incompetency and sue Leo for theft.

By pete

September 22, 2005 04:09 PM | Link to this

Having grown up in ATL, Delta was the only real airline. Now having enjoyed a great career at DL under some outstanding management teams, I cannot explain the emotions that I have for the current situation. It wasn’t that long ago, that we were all proud to have the bumper sticker, “Delta, the airline run by professionals” on our cars. Where has it all gone???

By sb

September 22, 2005 04:15 PM | Link to this

Here are my feelings about all the employees at Delta and why there pay shouldnt be cut. The pilots have the lives of people in their hands and have worked hard to get where they are today. The flight attendents dont stop from the time the plane leaves the ground till it lands and there can be some very demanding passengers. The ramp personnel have to work out in the elements. The reservationists are professional even when they have to put up with an irate customer and some of them can really be tough. The Boston and Los Angeles reservation offices were closed on Aug 31st and there never was a letter of sorry we are closing your office or thank you for all your good work, but on the Delta internet there was a picture of the CEO cooking hot dogs to thank the employees in Atlanta for all their good work. Talk about a slap in the face. I just hope all the employees who transferred out of Boston and Atlanta to other cities get to keep their jobs, it would be an awful experience to be in a different city than your home city and find yourself out of a job. Good luck and Best Wishes to all Delta employees.

By James

September 22, 2005 04:21 PM | Link to this

Do I feel sorry for the top tier fat cats of Delta? No. But, they aren’t the ones that are hurting here, it’s (as usual) the little guy who will suffer the most. To those of you who think Delta is getting what it deserves, your gray matter must be in your laudry basket, yesterdays underwear. This will have huge negative impact on the economy of Goergia and on our families, friends and neighbors. I wish all you ‘little guys’ at Delta the best of luck. Leo Mullins on the other hand….go to…..!

By Elizabeth

September 22, 2005 04:21 PM | Link to this

My heart aches for all Delta employees and their families who are experiencing life changing events because of the financial turmoil within the industry. I have faith that Delta will rebound and become a profitable company in the years to come; thus creating more jobs. I would hope my fellow Atlantans would remain supportive of the rough spot Delta is in and stay positive for our city based company; they are our “home-team� airline. Using frequent flyer miles or buying discount tickets is no way helpful for Delta to begin profiting. For those individuals who are sour about the pilot’s salaries, they are very deserving of their salaries because they are the most elite, experienced, highly trained and knowledgeable pilots in the industry. If you want to fly a safe airline with the best service and maintenance, higher wages is the best way to have the best employees. For the future well being of Delta, KNOWLEDGEABLE airline industry executives would be a dominant change. As for the current executives, I appreciate those taking pay cuts. However, is there anyway their 2003 $17.3 million cash bonuses and their $25.5 million secure pensions (“in the event of bankruptcy�) could have helped in someway to payoff a small portion of their bad debt or be used for philanthropy or marketing? What about the employees who devoted decades to Delta who’s pensions are about to end? Do they not deserve “secure pensions?� These employees losing their jobs or their pensions are the ones who helped to keep Delta flying passenger jets over the past 75 years. As for Delta’s marketing, I hope to see positive changes such as more ads in the near future. What about launching another “we love to fly and it shows� style campaign and bring back Delta’s positive traditional image? I will continue to support the company and all of its amazing employees from Customer Service Agents to Flight Attendants to Pilots to Engineers to Maintenance to everyone else; you are the reason I love to fly Delta. Please keep your spirits up and know we are praying for you.

By Math Wiz

September 22, 2005 04:23 PM | Link to this

To 767pilot:

A 32.5% pay cut and an additional 19.5% pay cut does not equate to over a 50% reduction from last year. It is around 46%.

Have you changed seats in the last year with all the pilots that are retiring?

What was your pay increase from 2001 to 2003?

Most of the pilots I know had their training paid for by the U.S. Government.

I do sympathize with you, truly, but didn’t you see it coming?

By riddlbc

September 22, 2005 04:35 PM | Link to this

I have grown up in an airline family with my father working for various airlines. First it was National Airlines in Miami, then it was Pan Am in New York, and then Delta in Atlanta. Yes I enjoyed the perks and benefits associated with being involved in the airlines. I enjoyed it so much I graduated college and wanted to find a job in the airline industry. I worked for ASA for a couple years why trying to get a job with Delta. Unfortunately I was not qualified because I didn’t have a masters degree…all I had was a desire to work for an amazing company (for less money than required having a Master’s degree).

I do feel sorry for all the “life long” Delta employees and families. If there is one thing I have learned from living in the airline family is “treat your employees like family and they will treat the company like family”. When the day comes that Delta can reduce the unnecessary management levels and go back to the workers who care then Delta will come back to the glory days. Delta lives to that saying “to many chiefs and not enough Indian’s”. How about we take Delta back to the days EVERYONE had to start on the ramp and work their way up in ranks. INCLUDING CEO’s, CFO’s, COO’s etc. Lets make all employees earn what they get and not give it to them.

To the people saying how about the executives taking the same pay cut as the employees are going to take (and have taken)…I disagree with that. How about finding a serious DELTA BORN AND BRED and making them earn it. Top executives should make NOTHING (if they care about the company and are serious about turning it around) and base their salary on PERFORMANCE ALONE!!! The more the company makes then the more they make. The company doesn’t make any money then neither do they!

Delta will survive and come back better than ever thanks to the caring Delta employee’s and the ones who will be gone will be the ones who really don’t care anything about Delta Airlines or the Delta family at all.

LONG LIVE DELTA!!

By Laura

September 22, 2005 04:39 PM | Link to this

My husband and I will always fly Delta. We refuse to fly the discount airlines.

By delta spouse

September 22, 2005 04:47 PM | Link to this

My husband has worked for Delta for 9 years. I have worked for a different company for 3 years. We both have service jobs and it is very sad that I make more money than him now. So this statement about Delta employees get paid more and that they should stop whining needs to be addressd. It is not true for Frontline employees! They get the grunt of it all and make less than some fast food company employees. Delta NEEDS to make paycuts from ALL supervisor and management positions at least 25%! STOP cutting the pay of front line employees. They work long & hard hours compared to all their supervisors and managers.This just makes no sense. What kind of morale is Delta trying to create? There are many front line employees that have been loyal workers for several years that feel like their lives have been wasted.
Why do flight attendants make more money when they barely pass out peanuts or barely even give a friendly smile? Delta flight attendants are the meanest and most uncustomer service oriented people in the sky. Delta flight attendants need 25% paycuts too! They need to take serious people skills classes. This world is not fair and my thoughts are with all of you Delta front line employees that are losing your jobs and taking paycuts.

By Scott

September 22, 2005 04:48 PM | Link to this

For those of you that have an issue with how much Delta employees make, especially mechanics, choke on this:

I’ve been working on Delta Airplanes for almost 15 years. My co-workers and I hold the lives of hundreds of passengers and crews in the palm of our hands everyday. We are personally responsible and accountable for everything we do to an airplane, not just for that day, but from now on. Now, multiply that by the 3 to 4 hundred plans my hands have personally touch and some people would say I need a raise, and I would agree. Someone mentioned earlier that it would be better to have 3 mechanics for the price of one. If you really want 3 flunkies making medium wage to replace one highly skilled and highly paid AMT, please let me know which plane they worked on, so I don’t get on it. By the way, as of today, Delta AMT’s are the lowest paid mechanics of any major carrier including SWA, AMR, UAL, Air Tran, Jet Blue, etc.

GOOD GOES AROUND!

By Tony

September 22, 2005 04:52 PM | Link to this

The greedy and corrupt corporate executives such as Grinstein, Mullin, and Allen should be prosecuted for bleeding Delta dry. The huge salaries and perks were justified by their “outstanding” leadership capabilities. In fact a bunch of monkeys could have provided better leadership.

By nk

September 22, 2005 04:54 PM | Link to this

I can’t believe the stupidity reflected in the postings here. As a 31-year employee of Delta, I never thought we’d see this day. But….here we are. Let’s get on with things and do what we have to do to get this company back on track. Bad-mouthing does no good at this point. The flying public needs to realize that Delta employees are taking pay and benefit cuts so that YOU can fly cheaply! Delta has to compete with the low-cost carriers or go out of business. Many postings here mention the demise of Delta’s service. Well, duh! We’ve had to pare down the payroll so you, our customers, can fly for less money. Understand? What companies do you work for? I say that your prices are too high. Why not cut the prices for your services in half? Then perhaps cut your salaries so that we can buy your services or products for less. The flying public wants “cheap”. Well, that’s what you’re getting. And employees are paying for that by taking pay cuts. You can’t have it both ways. Realize that the airtrans, jetblues, and southwests are the “wal-marts” of the airline industry and don’t pay their employees very well. Funny how many of their employees complain about their low pay, benefits, and skimpy retirements. Delta has to make changes to be competitive so that the public can fly cheaply. Please remember that. I guess cheap fares are an entitlement in today’s society. Why is it that I have to pay $25,000 for an automobile? Shouldn’t it be at least half that amount? Anyway, onward and upward, Delta! I trust that the remaining employees will do their best to provide outstanding service to our valued customers. Please overlook all the naysayers and come fly with us. Thank you.

By Joel

September 22, 2005 05:02 PM | Link to this

Delta employees have been spoiled at the trough LONG enough. They get shuttled around in air conditioned buses, get paid far more than their competitors, and should jump on this before they become another Eastern! I’m tired of people crying about Delta. Half the pilots are millionaires!

By Miles

September 22, 2005 05:05 PM | Link to this

They will be another TWA unless the employees and management start getting serious. They pay their employees, including pilots and management, like their name should be Saudi Air. More fiscal resposibility needed! And better customer service!

By mecq

September 22, 2005 05:10 PM | Link to this

I bet all of you whinners voted for Bush. Didn’t you know that when republicans are in office the only behinds that are covered are the RICH and Privilaged…..Not you or I.

By Michelle Johnson

September 22, 2005 05:18 PM | Link to this

I have been a proud Flight Attendant with Delta Airlines for 12 years & have enjoyed the ride. The loyal employees of this company will continue to ride this out until the fat lady sings. Of course, the paycut will feel like a p****** to the index finger yet, we at THE BIG D still count our blessings. We have a job, health/dental/pension benefits, travel privileges & the flexibility to pursue other endeavors. Instead of rejoicing to the bad news in the media regarding DELTA, just hope & pray bad news regarding your employer doesn’t knock at your front door. It’s 2005 people, nobody’s safe in CORPORATE AMERICA!!!

By eileen

September 22, 2005 05:45 PM | Link to this

Fellow employees—let the customers say what they will. We know the reasons we are here and how we are worth much more than most customers will ever realize. Let’s remember one thing some seem to be forgetting—we are all in this together!! When we applied, we checked the box that led to where we are now and when we accepted the uniform, we knew what the end of our rainbows looked like. If we wanted to be wearing a different uniform—pilot, fa, mechanic—we could have aspired to that dept and worked toward that job but there were reasons we didn’t and let’s not forget that. All of us are taking sacrifices and losing what we signed on forand invested many years to receive. Let’s quit turning on each other and envying another. One of the worst things previous managment did was sow seeds of discord among the employees so we would blame each other and not their greedy excesses. let’s support and respect each other and help each other get through this difficult time. Isn’t it enough that our customers will be making snide remarks and discounting our value—do we really want to do that to each other?? We are all we have and we need to remember we are on the same team. Let’s focus on that and gently remind those who may forget it!

By Peg

September 22, 2005 06:26 PM | Link to this

Delta has had it coming for years. Fly AirTran!

By T

September 22, 2005 07:33 PM | Link to this

Just fyi in regards to Tia Lewis comment it is more cost effective to have current employees to work overtime than to hire more employees, pay their salaries and medical benifits along with all of their dependants medical benefits, vacation and all other perks. As far as their extensive vacations you seem to think they have. They work for other people usually on their days off and those people work for them to extend their weekend or even get extra weeks off. And furthermore a topped out employee with the current pay cut will be at close to the bottom of the pay scale, compared to other airlines.

By Malcolm Westberry

September 22, 2005 07:59 PM | Link to this

The City of Atlanta and Cox Communications are finally realizing what Delta means to the city and the state. Public support by both would bring positive results to Delta, in return the city also gain. 75 years and most of it based in Atlanta, contibutions to the arts, childrens programs and many more projects. The employees limitless hours of volunteering. Where is your support Atlanta, where is your support Georgia? AJC Editor, where is your support? Atlanta needs the AJC, Atlanta needs Delta.

By Phil

September 22, 2005 07:59 PM | Link to this

I will continue to fly Delta. Yes the service has gone down hill, but most Delta employees have tried to provide good service. However, my loyalty to Delta will be questioned if the airline shrinks itself to a regional carrier.

I have no need for an airline like that. As I don’t only fly in the Southeast.

Keep trying Delta… and yes, for the rest of corporate America, this should be a wake-up sign. No one’s job and benefits are safe anymore. Someday the clowns in Congress and the White House might wake up! (and no, I didn’t vote for Bush in 2000 or 2004.)

By LPrice

September 22, 2005 08:02 PM | Link to this

To all the current Delta employees,,,we have a job to do. We can turn this “Once Great” company around and help secure it’s future for the next 75 years. We have been trained to carry ungrateful, demanding, arrogant, rude, ignorant people all over the world. After reading most of these comments they are remaining true to their colors. I look forward to completing my career here (13 years more) and then leaving this city that had the audacity to one time have the motto ” The City Too Busy To Hate”. To all the Delta employees it’s a priviledge to work with you as we create a company that will one day soon make all the LCC’s wish for the “good ole day’s” before we were forced “at gun point…so to speak” to make this an incredibly competitive company and once again overcome the expensive decisions of our leaders.

By Mick Beck

September 22, 2005 08:31 PM | Link to this

Delta will be the next USair. All their domestic reservation jobs are going to be outsource to India and some other country. That will probably make up some of the jobs cuts. Why would DL keep an agent that makes $20.00 an hour when they can get an agent in another country making $1.35 an hour. Outsourcing will save Delta, but will layoff many excellent agents.

By Thomas Prescott

September 22, 2005 08:39 PM | Link to this

Still too much capacity. One of the majors needs to go.

By Larry

September 22, 2005 08:39 PM | Link to this

I think they are doing the right moves to make the company survive and to continue to provide jobs in the Atlanta Area. We the public have been to demanding for more salaries and less cost of travel. It is time for a look at the increased cost of providing services and a company growing too big.

By Sasha

September 22, 2005 08:54 PM | Link to this

I feel for the community but not the employees of Delta. I read where the normal salary is $97,000 per year and thats without benefits added. Cut them 10% and these people are still making $87,300 per year. I am a college graduate and do not make that much money. So if you want me to cry for these employees well you have the wrong person. I am a saver and if I made that kind of money I would not be having problems financially. If Delta employees do its no fault but their own. They need to live a little cheaper like the rest of us working folks. Sorry but your just not going to get any tears from me. And just for other information I was a stock holder.

By Michael Mitchell

September 22, 2005 08:58 PM | Link to this

At the new pay scale Delta may have jobs for people. Under the old pay scale they would have 0 jobs.

By Bart

September 22, 2005 09:23 PM | Link to this

It’s amazing how empty some of the folks on this board are. Management not taking cuts? Huh? I’m management and I make 32% less than my peers. I’m here because I want to be and I know I won’t get rich here.

And “Delta good riddence.” Brilliant. Delta is the single largest employer in Atlanta with many many other companies relying on their business. Imagine the billions that will leave the economy if we leave.

And to those employees who grouse about the cut. Yeah, I don’t like it either but that’s the pay. Suck it and smile. Passengers can no doubt be demanding and occasionally demeaning but it’s the business we are in.

By Michael Rasnake

September 22, 2005 09:46 PM | Link to this

What we are witnessing here is just more downfall of this Country. America has become obsessed with cheap, no matter what the cost.

Most people in our society are so ignorant, they cant see next week much less the forest for the trees.

AirTran and JetBlue and Americas obsession with low prices is going to drive their children and their childrens children into very tough times. These two airlines pay WalMart type wages with no real chance for living much above the ever increasing poverty line (housing costs, fuel, groceries, etc).

However, people feel it is their god given right to fly on airplanes for prices lower than Greyhound or Amtrack offer. THEY DONT HAVE THIS RIGHT. People should pay for the service they receive. Unfortunately, a few guys decided to start AirTran and JetBlue and pay their employees peanuts while they line the pockets and us STUPID Americans support this.

Delta may or may not pull out of this, but I tell you, this is only the beginning. There are already plans for a company to start importing cars from China and the maximum price is going to be $25,000. Guess what is going to happen to all the workers at GM and Ford? Down the drain just like the old school airlines.

Good luck to all our children of this Country because it aint gonna be easy and be ready to cut the throat of one of your own in order to make it.

MY, MY, how far we have come as a society.

ENJOY YOUR CHEAP FARES and CHEAP SERVICE!!! See you at WalMart on Saturday. NOT!!!!!

By Curious

September 22, 2005 09:52 PM | Link to this

I’m in Home Depot every other week. I’ve never received so much as a free nail. I’m in Publix every other day, and have never received a free buggy of groceries. But I continue to shop these places, even though I have never been “rewarded” for my patronage, and may have encountered an occasional rude employee along the way. I have never contemplated their salary or their benefits, or been so presumptious as to think I know more about their jobs than they do. I have certainly never wished that they lose their jobs, their income, their benefits or their pensions. But as a 33 year Delta employee, every day I encounter business passengers who feel they should be “rewarded” with free tickets and first class upgrades for patronizing my company. Odd, since if they are traveling on business, they are essentially being paid by their employer to be there, and are probably sitting in a first class seat they didn’t pay for. The venom express by so many of you against Delta and its employees is sad… for you. And those of you who think every flight attendant or agent you have ever come into contact with has treated you badly, perhaps you should examine your own behavior. Sometimes you are simply reaping what you sow. When my salary is cut, I won’t have the same amount of money to spend at Home Depot, Publix, or the company you might work for. Look at the big picture. We are all in this economy together whether you like it or not, and what effects me will very likely effect you. Be careful what you wish for, especially when you wish your fellow man ill will.

By kirk

September 22, 2005 09:59 PM | Link to this

I am concerned for those that has lost their jobs. If those remaining do not like the pay cut, feel free to pursue other opportunities. If you do Delta should offer position to those laid off.

By Diane

September 22, 2005 10:28 PM | Link to this

If some of you people act as offensively in person toward airline employees as you have in your postings, you deserve to be treated badly.

By shirley from Atlanta

September 22, 2005 11:17 PM | Link to this

I would like to say I started in the Airline Industry in the middle 60’s and I know the F/A work hard and have to handle the gropers and the drunks. But reading what most of what you have written makes me sick. You should be ashamed that good people are trying hard to survive.You are the kind that will bring them down. All airlines had and will always have the good,the bad,and the ugly. Not on the outside either. I would not be a F/A because they work as hard as waitresses with no tips and lots of times no smiles, Just gripes from the Public, people like you. You should have had a Union and all this money would not have gone to the exec. Delta was really good to their people in the 60’s. Does anyone remember the Fine Ol’ Gentleman in the wheelchair behind the tkt cntr in Atl for Years? They kept him on and he more than earned his salary. Do you think they would care enough today to repeat that. Heck NO. They allowed the top people to ruin the Co. but darn it why didn’t you vote Union and Delta would not be going down the tubes. Quit or work hard and grit your teeth and be glad you have a job, if you are able to survive.Get a little backbone and show you care about the Co. It takes hard workers, not gripers. One more thing the family’s do not travel free around the world either. A lot of times pass riders pay more in the long run. Keep up the smiles and Pray you survive and you will be happy if you contribute instead of sounding off like “Real Jerks.” My Heart goes out to all the good people and Delta has a lot of good people,in the air and on the ground. My hat is off to them and my prayers to all.

By Barbara Hall

September 22, 2005 11:48 PM | Link to this

I am in the unique position of being both an Eastern employee, who worked here in Atlanta through that airline’s last day in business in JAN91, and a DEC01 Delta retiree. I can tell you from personal experience which one is better. Granted that Delta has its flaws, but please show me a Georgia company or group of employees that has none. Tell me, how is your customer service these days?

I am puzzled as to why people whose careers and livelihoods are probably related in some way to the business Delta brings daily to this region would trash it. Apparently the loss of thousands of local Delta jobs and their salaries, and the reduced incomes of the jobs that remain, isn’t going to touch them.

Then I guess they won’t miss seeing us at The Ted, the Georgia Dome or the Alliance theater; showing us their goods to buy in their stores and shops; selling us new cars or boats at their dealerships; or buying clothes, refrigerators and insurance at their businesses. No one should mind if we stay home to eat or entertain instead of in their restaurants and bars, or cancel our AJC print subscriptions. Who will care if I do my hair at home now or paint my own house?

Delta has been an economic driver for this region’s economy for decades. Its value to Atlanta cannot be overestimated. Coke and Home Depot employees fly it every day. Think. The job and salary cut that’s really at risk is yours.

By Bob

September 23, 2005 02:17 AM | Link to this

You people are making me afraid to fly Delta! If you want to keep your jobs, spouting off in public forum is not helpful. Safety is very important to me and that is the main reason I fly Delta. All corporations have problem and it easy to point blame. I always thought Delta should have kept to it’s roots and not try to be the biggest. Please try and work together and make Delta get better. We need you…

By Hal

September 23, 2005 03:55 AM | Link to this

I realize that it is enticing to fly companies like Air Tran simply based on price..I do. I think people need to realize how this will send ripples throughout the Atlanta economy. Does anyone ever stop to think that these proclaimed overpaid crybabies may have been purchasing your goods and services faithfully? They may now just choose to purchase cheeper products and point the finger at you when you’re trying to earn a profit. All Atlantans need to keep this in mind.

By Anthony Jackson

September 23, 2005 07:59 AM | Link to this

It is really something to see some people on this message board gloating at Delta’s situation, and laughing at the employees financial situation. I am a gate agent with this once proud carrier, and all this week, our passengers have gotten extremely rude and obnoxious. To read and hear how people say that I am over paid is absurd. My top out pay (was) under $40,000, and that was after 10 years of service. Now, I just took a 9% pay cut, on top of the 10% paycut that was imposed a few months ago. I am just trying to provide for my family and put a roof over our heads and food on the table just like anyone else. I wonder how these rude people would feel if They took a 19% pay cut, and a huge increase in their insurance premiums? My father retired from this airline, and he is worried about his retirement and his insurance. All I have ever known is the airlines, and I love working for one. What gets me, is the passengers want “Cheap Tickets Dot Com” but expect superior service. And their $100 fare is a license to abuse an agent. I’ll go out of my way to help a courtious passenger but I wont budge to help a rude one … You get what you give, so to speak. I don’t know how anyone, passengers, or company officials think that we can keep quality employees with these paycuts. Delta is even doing everything they can to reduce, or even eliminate our pensions … Just put yourself in our shoes for a minute and see how it feels.