GG,

Thank you for your positive tone. Please pardon my brief response but this hotel is connected to the internet via either dial up, or carrier pidgeon, can't figure out which. It is slow.

I did not read a percentage in your post. If you stated, in objective terms, what you wanted, I missed it. Probably you did just as I would do ... you refrained from putting a number out there; knowing a bunch of opinions would be forthcoming on why that number was too high, too low, etc...

Your response seems to be "more" and do so with "forcoso" or "fortississimo." ! If so, I think we (as a pilot group) are doing that.

These negotiations are always complex and Contract 2015 isn't going to be any easier. Trend analysis suggests our nation's very tepid economic recovery (fueled with enormous deficits) probably has another three and a half years in it. So we are going to be in a good position to negotiate, but not as good a position if we reach an impasse and stagnate.

I will invite one of those men who have been involved in our negotiations to chime in under the process of the NMB. Perhaps they can add a perspective to this discussion.

As for my suggestion to volunteer; the point is so you can get inside and see how the sausage is made. When one does a little of the work they can better appreciate the task. And while ALPA will perform coious polling to learn your opinion ... if you're volunteering you have a better opportunity to advance the way you want to see things get done. ( I lobby my Reps as hard as I lobby our Congressmen )

I am sure you have been on a trip that was scheduled so miserably that you've thought "if those damn scheulers had to fly this they would have never created it. They should have to come out and ride our jumpseats through these rotations." ... well ... it is a valid point. Come ride the ALPA jumpseat and see ... I'm sure we will be putting together a Strike Preparedness Committee ... I'm not being a smart alec ... join in.