Originally Posted by
gloopy
If is right, but there's another angle at play as well. What if it wasn't ALPA but the courts (with or without the blessings of ALPA National) that held our contract hostage? Courts are in the business of letting just about anything into the system and it routinely takes years to sort anything out. So we put forth scope recapture and ALPA DCI groups press for an injunction and now we're into the convoluted language of the Scope Subcommittees and Policy Manual scope guidelines and all of that and we have to educate various levels of the court system each time as it makes it way up so our contract (raises, work rule improvements and of course better scope) is either delayed or the insane monetary claims start to rack up like the 1.4 Billion dollar TWA fantasy payment they think we are all going to pony up 25,000 bucks each to pay them. But either way it takes years and tens of millions in legal fees.
That's why I think LM will do everything in his power to insure that scope recapture at the DCI level doesn't occur at any significant enforceable level, and honestly probably Alaska scope as well. Pressure will be put on "our" lawyers not to "go there" and it will require an extremely united and defiant front to force the issue, possibly even so motivated as to delay raises and C2012. And of course if the TA doesn't contain significant scope recapture at all levels, we will, 100%, be told to vote for it or we will be threatened with the NC quitting, starting over or we will be parked for 5 years, etc.
That is a very interesting theory. But again, if Tim O has any intestinal fortitude, he pulls LM aside and tells him how it's gonna go down. Vote for me.. I'll do it.
I guess we are the second biggest payer of dues to the association, and the tail should not be wagging the dog. Of course, this is where those highly compensated lawyers get involved and tell us that we better not do that because it will cost thousands of dollars, and cost millions of lives... So it is a quagmire no doubt. When these kinds of issues come to the fore, it really reinforces the thought that an independent is the way to go, and pay for the services we need.. when we need them. Of course that will never happen, so this garbage will continue forever....
And.. I am over the threats about the NC. I have been thru this rodeo twice now and I'm not falling for that. If they bring us an inferior TA, and we vote it down.. I don't care what they do.. go back in for another round.. quit.. jump off a bridge.. I really don't care, but I will tell you this.. and this is JMHO.. that if they DO bring us a crap contract, the doughnuts will see a surge that will water their eyes... because at that point, we are pretty much going to be nailed ot the wall by management, and since there are no pay raises after 2012, they get cheap labor.. no incentive to get a deal... you know how that will play out. I know the negotiators.. well 2 of them anyway, and I think they are good guys. I thin they will work hard for us. It all depends on the national agenda and if they keep their grubby paws off of the product.
There.. I feel better.