While I agree, this would be the minimum I expect too, I'm not looking at this as an opener. At some point, we are going to meet some arbitrators, and they are going to judge us by how reasonable our proposal is. If we can show them that our table position is reasonable, it doesn't matter if it is our starter or the result of 5 years of protracted negotiations.

What I'm reading from the tea leaves is that JM thinks we are headed for a little brinksmanship and will find ourselves in front of an arbitrator in March, therefore, he is hitting the company between the eyes. This is what we expect and this is what we are willing to fight for, and if we end up in arbitration, our position is reasonable.

I hope I'm right....the company knows we will not roll over for pay rates alone...despite gold fingers criticism. They have to know its going to take more than 8, ps conv, 3,3. After United's contract extension, the 22% is going to bring us to parity, or in the range. After that, if they want to fight, I'm sure we can gather enough information about our proposal vs our peers to show how reasonable we are being. This contract proposal will not put us too far ahead them, if at all.