Petition - HL 249 (1)

From: David Cann

Date: 2/16/2016 3:06:53 AM

To: mark@pilotcommunication.net

Subject: HL 248 Finance (2)

Dear Mark:

           Thank you for publishing my "lone wolf" letter addressed to Ed Bastian for the benefit of all retired Delta pilots harmed by Delta Air Lines.

             You stated a collective effort might be more fruitful.

              I propose a letter writing campaign.

               It would start off slow, like the donations to the Spirit of Delta campaign.   But letters, not money.

                Something like the Shawshank letter writing campaign.

              A mass of lone wolf letters.

              Group 1.    The 2500 or so members of DP3.

               Group 2.   All retired Delta pilots

               Group 3.    All retired Delta employees

               Group 4.     All active Delta pilots

               Group.  5.   All active Delta employees

                Group. 6.   Alpa.  (a chance for retribution!)

                Group 7.     All airline pilots

                 Group 8.     All Airline employees

                 Group 9.    All airline employee families

                  Group 10.   Related companies, Boeing airbus, Jeppesen, Collins

                  Group 11.  Politicians

                  Group 12.   Media

                  Group 13.   The public

  

           What would the effect be from, say, 1 letter per day from each member of each group, to

 Ed Bastian?

              Dp3 would be charged with organizing the campaign.

             Need a rallying, catchy, slogan.  A bumper sticker.  A sticker on clothing, or a flight kit, or luggage.

             A billboard in Atlanta near Delta headquarters.

               That's it.   The power would come from the mass of daily letters to Ed Bastian.

 He couldn't help but be embarrassed into action.  He could become a legitimate hero.

 The campaign would give a sense of purpose to those affected, and a way to relieve guilt from those profiting from their theft.

               Dp3 would determine when to proceed from step 1 to 13, if necessary.

   Have our present efforts reduced results? If not, what harm in trying this approach?

 Any harm in restoring some hope to those who have given up?

 As long as the theft continues, the collective weight on the Delta conscience will grow.

 The greater the injustice, the greater the healing when justice triumphs.

   That is the source of hope for us.

 Whatever we do, no threats, no embarrassing Delta, or harming Delta business.

 Respectful, polite, strong, powerful.  Emphasize the human dimensions of the continuing theft

 The sleepless nights, the constant stress, the health effects, the loss of families, quality education for families.  The divorces.  The inability to properly fund religious institutions, etc etc etc.

 A short note per day, rather than one long letter.

 Make it a daily habit.   Watch the effort snowball.  Delta will have to respond positively.  A continued no will only bring more letters.

 Mark, the above is a personal letter from me to you.

 I have started my daily letter writing campaign.

 David Cann (retired?)

 PS.  Mark, how long would you ignore just 2500 letters a day, calling for restitution, for a theft that you didn't cause, but could fix?

Editor: David,   I am in favor of any effort made to make things right.  And I would be right on board with your idea save a few little hurdles.

So may I ask a few questions  about your idea.  I assume that to save postage you will be emailing your letters.  After the second one is received your email address will be blocked forever (a procedure used by every well known personality) , so how would the many emails written that will never be seen have any effect?

Now instead of writing emails, let's say you decide to bite the bullet and send the letters by USPS.   All mail to executives is sorted and filtered and the same thing as above would happen to your .$42 stamp each and every time.

So you ask me how could I (as Ed Bastian) ignore your 2500 letters?  Really very easily............... I would never see them.

So this isn't to throw cold water completely on your idea, but it is to highlight the obvious.  Letters written that will never be seen will have no effect.  So that is a hurdle that needs to be considered.  This is why we did a petition that "grouped" over 3300 signatures and comments in a large printed volume and delivered simultaneously to the private addresses of every board member.  Because we did this, we got a hearing with senior mgt.  So in addition to the question about the assured delivery of your effort there is the question of to what goal?  We had a goal of getting before the king and presenting our case and we spelled that out and met that goal.  No, we didn't move the needle but our plan brought us to the table on Nov 12, 2013.  How would unread letters do that?  And even if management was moved a bit by seeing a few letters, who would they contact to see what our group wants?

I am willing to not only support but plug ANY effort that is well thought out and has an inkling of a chance at getting our case reheard by the new management.  Help me understand how the shortcomings will be addressed and I will gladly jump on board and encourage others to do also.

Mark Sztanyo

Mark.

Thanks for your reply.

All your points have merit.  I certainly don't want to reinvent the wheel when it comes to trying to get a message to Ed Bastian.  I haven't received a reply from anyone at Delta.  But I'm sure I will.

If I do, I will immediately propose a meeting between you and Ed Bastian, if you agree.

I believe you are the best representative I have to champion our retirement grievance.

You got closer to the target than I have so far.

What have you got to lose by my lone wolf approach?

I'll go so far as to say I'll do what you say.

Meanwhile, the idea of a written letter per day to Ed Bastian is my initial intention.

Should I get no response, I'll send them return receipt requested.

Has dp3 ever thought of a billboard outside Delta headquarters.

Is a sole retiree allowed to picket outside of headquarters?

As a line check airman I joined the picket lines in uniform outside the Atl terminal.

I'd do it again.

What about a letter to the editors of the Atlanta  Constitution campaign?

How about taking out a weekly ad in the paper asking Ed Bastian to address our grievance?

Are there  any Atlanta based Delta retirees who would consider towing a banner over Atlanta with a message.  .  Ed Bastian.  Do the right thing.

Are we allowed to hand out flyers at Delta stations including Atlanta?

How about a talk radio campaign, where Retired Delta pilots keep calling in?

A common theme would be that Ed Bastian doesn't respond, and therefore doesn't care.

If the call comes, our response would be simple.  Restore our retirement in full.

Getting Alpa to go to bat for us would go a long way to correct their failure.   After 32 years of supporting Alpa, paying dues, volunteering, etc,  where were they when we needed them the most?  What happened to us proves Alpa is a fair weather friend at most, and a paper tiger at the least.

Look forward to your reply,  David

 


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