We must absolutely demand "retro" instead of a signing bonus, and here is why. It is a history refresher for UAL pilots, and a for the CAL side a lesson in what has been "played" on us before, recently.

In our exit from bankruptcy contract, we received a 550 million dollar convertible note, supposedly in lieu of the vested portion of our A fund. But it was not called that, just a note. If they called it retirement, it should have been doled out according to what we all had vested at the time.

Instead, our MEC, without allowing membership ratification, came up with a BS methodology to distribute the money unevenly with some getting a huge windfall, and others getting the shaft. (For me I got about what my vested A fund was. Just luck)

I asked out LEC members why they would not let us vote on this distribution plan. They said "you allowed us too. It is in the contract"
Sure as SH$#@, I read the contract, and the language in there said "to be distributed at the discretion of the MEC". That is a paraphrase. I don't remember the exact language. They had put this language in the TA draft on purpose.

IMHO, if they call this a "signing bonus" instead of retro, this will allow some to get more than they deserve, and penalize others. When the TA comes out, I recommend we all read what it says about the money, and if we get membership ratification on how it is distributed.

On the UAL side, we have been "played" a lot, to the financial dismay of many of us.