The key statement in my mind. Goes to the "meat on the hook" philosophy. CAL work rules are infinitely flexible, and inexpensive to flex as well. CAL rules gives management cost advantages that they will not give up without a job action. UAL work rules are not writ from the mount, but they are less flexible and more expensive when they do have irregular ops.

I think the UAL MEC spent 6 months in shock at how bad CAL's rules are, realizing that the company wants to use them in the JCBA. And the company was in shock at how much more expensive UAL's work rules would be. Remember way last summer when the company said that UAL work rules would be the starting point? Ah, those were the days.