Here are some salient points to consider:

1. We fought for and paid for our last contract to be negotiated

2. We continue to fight for current enforcement of the contract. While this is normal and standard practice for labor unions, it does seem rather odd at the both the volume of grievances and their expense.

3. The sections of the current contract that require constant surveillance and vigilance in enforcement are not cheap. However, the awards to the pilot are pennies on the dollar. This amount of enforcement activity has not served as a deterrent to the company for violating the contract.

Some questions to consider:

1. If the Europeans succeed in essentially abrogating all US Airline Contracts by shoving their interpretation of "open skies" down our throats and both the US Government and ALPA fail to protect our careers what is the current contract worth? What is an extension worth? What is a new contract worth? How much time does it buy us before the entire bottom falls out of the US airline industry and everyone from SWA to DAl to UAL nullifies our agreements.

2. What aproach gives us the most bang for the buck, extension or new contract?

3. Is ALPA considering drastic changes in the entire document, or just looking to solidify current book and incorporate grievance awards and other subsequent LOA's into the agreement?

4. What are the companies goals and motivations behind an extension?