Originally Posted by
aa73
Gents,
A humble opinion from an outsider.
I voted Yes on our AA/US JCBA simply because our MOU dictated that a No vote automatically sent our contract into cost neutral arbitration while locking us out huge pay increases, to be eventually averaged out to DL/UA pay rates (still well below each.) In other words, with a gun to our heads. The company won either way. I also voted Yes due to the fact that our membership and union leadership was completely at a loss as to what, or how, to fight if we voted it down.
The MOU completely removed any leverage our union had, and tied our hands. Win for Parker/Kirby. And so here we are.
You guys are not bound by an MOU that sends your contract into the hands of an arbitrator. You have tons of leverage. Your company is the best run and most profitable airline in the US and yet they are asking for concessions while using profit sharing to fund a small pay rate increase.
This would be an automatic No vote for me. Had our JCBA not been bound by cost neutral arbitration, I would also have voted No for ours as well. You guys can do way better. Hold the line!
73
How is it that a guy who works for another company knows this, but many of our own pilots don't? 
What's our leverage?
Ask 767 FO if he, or she thinks we have leverage. Ask them how many times a day their phone rings. Look at the 767 ER open time (Especially NYC). Look at their daily trip coverage (especially NYC).) There are letters on their I've never seen before. Assignment with conflict? Wow.
This TA solves a staffing problem for the company. Big time.
If this TA doesn't pass, they won't drag their feet to get back to the table. They will be waiting there.