It appears that mgmt was playing chess while the MEC's were playing checkers all along. It all started with the TPA that, ironically, Heppner helped craft when he was NC chair under Wendy. That document served to basically codify existing scope ratios and protections in the CAL CBA for the UA pilots. There was no substantial gain for the CAL side in that regard.

Where the massive failure occurred was this time last year at the TPA renegotiations. Smisek had already shown his intrinsic reluctance to actively bargain with us, and by allowing TPA2 to have another sunset date only a year away gave the company the timeline and bargainng leverage they needed to drag this out and split the pilot groups into haves and have nots to secure a yes vote for a sub-standard TA made under duress.

I empathize with my lUal brothers over this decision, but I weep for all of us going forward because the scorched earth mentality approach to labor relations is all Team Smisek knows and cares to employ.