Actually, it isn't concession-free money although it might appear that way without thinking about it. In reality, anytime a bargaining representative negotiates pay increases for only some of their members, the group as a whole becomes weaker.

In this case, since it primarily benefits the company ostensibly to solve the staffing problems THEY themselves are 100% responsible for, there is now theoretically less need to address the overall foundation of the real problem. In short, this is simply another band-aid the company wanted from Envoy ALPA and in perfect lock-step predictability of the past, they delivered. Although IMO, the results of actually solving their problem will remain elusive, what this does reveal is it proves this MEC has STILL learned nothing from the past and appears totally incapable of not assisting the company that seems determined to screw you at every opportunity at the overall expense of the pilot group as a whole.

History has repeated itself yet again at the carrier.