Lipout,

No secret I've been frustrated by some of the age 60 stuff and some of the responses from some of the block reps.

You'll probably get more audience if you realize a lot of this stuff ain't personal. Our MEC probably did make some mistakes on this--I was one guy who was pretty dead set against STVs.

Not trying to sound preachy--but I will say for whatever you think of the LOA (and I've voted no) Sleepy, Tony, and a few other guys have put in some serious overtime trying to do the best they can. I agree there are a lot of holes right now. I'm against the LOA. I think some of the MEC is out of touch with us. I also think we need to fix one issue at a time and keep this businesslike.

Recalling MEC officers is about impossible. Block reps, on the other hand, can be sniped off block by block. I think there is a good case for some new blood. However--if you want to do this--start picking a few good candidates out of your block and then figure out when your next LEC meeting is. You can make some changes and have some input. I've actually chaffed more at some of the comments from some of the reps after the LOA than I did over the money.

However--I recommend you stick to the issue at hand until August 11.

For what its worth--some of your MEC seem to be "getting it" that their crew force will give them more leverage. Some seem to be trying to listen.

The company's line on the dynamic situation in HKG is "we don't know yet, but we'll work it out..." I believe (perhaps somewhat niave) they will do their best to smooth out some of the rough spots. However, based on how they do BUSINESS, we need to make sure our LOA is fairly clear and tight. Voting against this LOA isn't personal--its just business.

My latest realization that we need to have things in writing? I did 5 days in a hotel on a week long pairing a few months back. I signed up for internet service and put it on company credit card. Lost a receipt for 2 days worth of internet service... Admin folks were in hub the other day helping with expense reports, and I was advised I could A) send a letter to my CP requesting approval for expense with lost receipt ($19.90) or B) eat it. Considering I had to call/pester DM enough last month about getting back on flight status, I decided just to eat this one. He might fix it with a pen stroke, but geez--do I really have to bug him (especially since he is in transition) to do all that when my calendar, my company credit card, and the other records all point to the fact I WAS in the Sheraton Waterside those days? The answer you'll get from the company is "hey--its just business" My answer on the LOA is the same--but without an malice or snide tones. When we are getting optimized, nickeled and dimed on expense reports, and fighting with CPs over "accepted fares", its kind of hard to accept that if we'll just dive on this grenade and go to these FDAs it will somehow all work out. I think there is a lot of room for clarifying a lot of these points you mentioned, as well as some other areas. If we say "please", and "NO thank you" instead of "why don't you *&^* shove this up you &^%&" I think we'll all get a lot farther along.