The union can't guarantee anything other than Section 6 negotiations, because there are two parties to this. It would be extraordinarily irresponsible for the union to suggest that they have the slightest clue as to whether the company is bluffing about a plan B that doesn't include sitting down early. There are no legal means to force negotiations before release, so there is no failure of leadership. Only common sense prevailing.

The pilot group will provide the leadership, and the union will continue to represent accordingly. We will each have to guess on management's next move. Based on the precedent of the JCBA, I think there is decent chance of negotiations soon, but to save face the company will only offer a second deal that is worse than the first. Another precedent to lok at will be Southwest vs. Air Tran.

If the company were to cave that obviously, on the verge of follow-on agrrements with DCI carriers, then wide-body manufacturers and/or potential aquisition targets, they would start from a position of low credibility.