We've never been in a position of having more leverage than now. Record profits, high load factors, growth and an inevitable pilot shortage. Why did we have a group of unprepared negotiators going to the table? Who invited whom to an early signing, and why? Sworn to secrecy, I'm sure they know; however, it is not justifiable to step into the pitch for a walk when we submit surveys to swing for the fence. We all know that the focus was on the profit sharing would be on the table as indicated by the investors, but to rape the work rules and JV language is a slap in the face. When SD told us at the C2012 meeting that a yes vote would mean new hires by the end of the CY, that was either a lie or naivety, but we didn't see hiring for over a year. Now we pay for the company's dilemma of training setbacks with sick leave and 23G concessions?! Not our fault. We funded a portion of our pay raises with a concession on PS in 2012 (that concession was implemented company-wide). Now we are asked to do it again. Our vote changes PS for the whole company as we saw in 2012, so we're not just talking about the 1/3rd of PS that goes to us, but the other 2/3rd that goes to the rest. What is that going to fund? Cost neutral, or a huge gain for the investors and execs? We have the leverage and time. Let C2012 stay in place until it hurts. The MEC is using scare tactics in their language to prevent this, but there is something else out there that is causing this rush to early signing that we may not know. The table is still there. We have time. For anyone voting yes because of the contracted money, find some principle. I could make a lot more money than this as a male prostitute, but out of principle, I won't allow myself to be violated just for some quick cash. For those that are yes voters on the way out just looking for the boost in pay and not worried about the sick leave and look-back rules, think about this: you were probably prior military and left for whatever reason. I bet when you left, you still had a sense of ownership of your corps (the ones you left and probably trained to replace you to hold the line). The whole industry is watching us on this one, so we need to be good custodians and do the right thing. If we fail at this one, we will set the course for degrading our role at the pointy end of the spear. We all have a story of the time when we "saved the day." One mishap can cost the company hundreds of millions, so what are you worth? Heck NO, and we'll let you know when we're ready to come back to the table. This is not the time to give up our work rules and save the company from the troubled times of record profits. And, no, I wasn't here when the guys/gals gave up so much to keep the company going, but I am going to be a good custodian of the principle for which they did.

HOLD THE LINE! (and communicate this everywhere we can, clock is ticking).