Since this thread is being steered towards contract negotiations talk, I would just like to add that our pilot group has been weak up until now. We had a great opportunity two years ago to turn down the TA and ask for improvements. So many of our pilots were worried about being parked for several months that they voted yes. Others voted yes, because they had 5 or less years left in their careers.

We could learn so much from WN pilots. They have the sack to turn down TAs and now they are in the process of putting together a strike preparedness committee.

I hope that in 2-3 years, our pilot group won't accept the first TA presented. Of course, a lot of that depends on getting some leadership in the NC and the MEC.

We really really lost out on negotiating for scope last time around. The NC didn't fight for it, because "management wouldn't go for it". Also, too many in our ranks kept saying things like, "Scope is not worth the paper it's written on."

The best thing that came out of the contract 2 years ago was furlough protection language. Everything else was less than stellar. The $200.00 was insulting, IMHO, and FO pay should have been increased.

There are so many things we left on the table, but I'll just leave it here.

If ALK keeps making money hand-over-fist, then we'll have leverage. We just have to recognize that we have leverage and fight for a good contract.