The union leadership sees this as high priority because of the obvious discontent that will come on 2/14/12 when CAL pilots find they are the only employee group between the two companies that aren't getting a check. The union leadership will be blamed for this failure and, along with the general malaise in the group, may face lack of support, support they will sorely need as negotiations near the finish line--maybe just to keep their jobs.

This will be compounded by the fact that it will be a total surprise to the large number of pilots who are completely disconnected from any information flow. It's pretty amazing (you mean we have guys on furlough? was a common cockpit statement in the recent past). This will be further compounded by the total loss of respect for this group, from the ramper to the CEO, who all were smart enough to ink ironclad agreements to get a piece of the synergy pie for this, the most profitable year in history, a projected $1.6B--all except the CAL pilots. Their timing is impeccable.

So, yes, I think they're trying hard to get profit sharing. Even the company may have some self-interest here. They want to have happytime on 2/14/12 that the publicity machine can spin, they want to do the union leadership a favor so when it comes times to return the favor it will be hard to say no, and finally, although incredibly unlikely, not-getting-it discontent may finally tip the pilot group away from it's usual helpful can-do attitude. After all they've been getting on time time checks since it was called Varney Speed Lines.

I don't think there should any discussion on it all. It isn't there, don't use any leverage to get, don't take any favors. There isn't the faintest hint of a contract yet. That should be the only concern.