My angle is rational thought. I enjoy fact based debate. "Restoration" seems like an irrational objective. Not because it is too high but because it's based on nothing a mediator is likely to consider during negotiations. It's a desperate argument in a situation that doesn't require it.

Here are some facts a mediator is likely to consider. Delta is making billions, seriously billions! Comparable pilot groups have comparable contracts. It'd be better if comparable pilot groups had better contracts but at least there is no US Airways out there making 40% less than us. Hell, the worst out there right now is probably Jet Blue and they just voted in ALPA because they aren't happy about it. Our company values labor peace to the point they talk about it to investors. We hold the keys to labor peace and if the company wants it they are going to have to pay for it.

These are all good things. Really good things. This is a really good environment to negotiate yet some here want our representatives to scream "restoration" and (figuratively) kick management in the nuts. Great idea. The minute you do that you lose any chance of monetizing labor peace over something a mediator likely doesn't care about. This doesn't make sense to me.