You guys are expecting too little, just as a majority of the Delta pilots did when they voted in their newest contract. Had they set their expectations higher they could have gone to the drawing board and got more money and better work rules (whatever that may be). However, they had already lowered their expectations and came out with a contract that was an improvement--nothing more than an improvement.
Keep in mind that Delta can't just go find somebody else to do the scoped out flying if their guys demand better wages/QOL etc like they can for the none scoped flying.
What happens if ExpressJet pilots won't sign yes on anything less than "Delta RJ" wages and work rules (what ever those happen to be)?
The company says hell no and it gets dragged out with mediator from the NMB (who by the way will never release a pilot group to strike over something that isn't "realistic" in the current environment, as you your self have said Delta RJ rates wouldn't be today) and eventually the company will give you their last, best and final offer and then you'll be frozen by the NMB. So you'll be flying with your current contract for years longer.
Or, maybe the company says ok and gives you the payrates you are asking for (see: United 2000). Their costs go through the roof and they have to go back to the companies they have the contracts with (Delta, United etc) and ask for more money per block hour. Delta/United laugh at them and say that if ExpressJet can't do the flying for the agreed upon costs (or less) they will find somebody who can. At this point either the flying goes to a cheaper company (and there are plenty of those out there because they have a) already caved, b) are non union so they can do whatever they want or c) have very low longevity and hence a cheaper cost structure), OR ExpressJet keeps flying while losing money left and right and eventually declares Chapter 7 or 11.
So you see it's going to result in a very negative outcome for the pilot group either way. And I understand that many guys, especially FOs, would rather burn a place to the ground and start over somewhere else than take concessions, but that's not really the most logical way of doing things. The new place to go will probably be hiring because they have just been awarded new flying because they are the cheapest option (most likely because of reasons A or B above and now you have shut down a mature, higher end (if that's even possible in the regional industry), most likely union shop and moved on to a lower end place. How does that help the industry as a whole, or even your own paycheck?
I'd never tell anybody how to vote on anything. All I'm saying is that sometimes the bigger picture is bigger than phrases like StopTheWhipsaw and OneList!111!!!!
