Originally Posted by
Check Essential
Welcome back acl !!
What's done is done. Its a new day.
We could really use your help getting this new contract. I hope you'll join us.
Very few people have the depth of knowledge and recent experience that you possess when it comes to this whole process.
Unfortunately some of those people are choosing not to support the new MEC.
We are where we are. I am looking forward to hearing your perspective on how best to move on from here.
I voted for Malone. I was one of a handful of votes he had before the election meeting started.
I voted for every member of the Negotiating Committee that got elected.
I want this MEC insanely successful. Do not forget that the previous MEC set the redirection.
I will leave it at this. Contrary to popular belief, my personal desires and what was best for me politically took/take a back seat to what my individual analysis and the memberships desires were/are. The survey is aspirational and nature. We did not hit everything but to say it was disregarded is hogwash. In the redo, there is no way the new MEC will get everything. Don't hold them to that. Its never happened, ever.
You also agreed with my decision to send the TA to the membership.
How best:
The die is cast, "WE" collectively voted no in a democratic process. The decision was a we decision. We can point fingers all day long on this or that, and what the pilots did or did not believe. Right now one thing is fore-certain, none of that will get us a new contract. Mistakes were made on both sides last time. Lessons have been learned by all. Anyone who says differently is not being honest. Mistakes will be made this time. With a lot of changeover, its inevitable.
The difference is last time the impetus was to get the best deal we could quickly. It was an opportunity for another early deal. We passed on it. That's fine, we now go the more traditional route. That likely will take time, and that was clearly stated last year to the MEC. Now the new MEC just needs to get a deal the pilot group will support and can wait as long as it takes because the pilots choose the path.
We went back multiple times and could not even move value. Everyone that was in the room said the company was truly done. We had a split MEC. That is a path to nowhere fast. All of these were significant data points in my decision. So was my personal industry and macro analysis.
Should we have walked away? no. The company likely did not believe that the pilot group was where we said it was. They now know, but to date that has not changed their position on where the value added limit is. The TA had to be seen and voted on by the membership and the path had to be chosen by all of us. It was, and now we have to get a deal that all of us will support.
There is a path here, and I am sure that the Strategic Planning committee chaired by Art Aaron has laid or will lay out a path for the MEC to agree or disagree with. If I was to offer advice to the MEC it would be to listen to these individuals on the strat planning and negotiating committee. They are the people in the room who live this day in and day out, not the reps.
The company likely has made a cost-risk analysis and will take risk over cost beyond a certain level. It is the negotiators job to find that line. That line moves with the economy and the industry trends. If the company believes that the negotiators have the authority to TA a deal and that the MEC is empowered by the pilots to negotiate on their behalf, I believe the company will start seriously negotiating. More familiarity with the NC and MEC will provide that proof.
Having the company take a read at a MEC meeting with the meet and greet is a very good idea. The company is honest and frank with the MEC, and the MEC can be honest and frank with them. The MEC does not negotiate with the company but body language is important.
I personally want the new MEC insanely successful. I prefer to be rich than right. Its a negotiation, and not a demand based system. The NMB makes both parties engage in interest based bargaining and if that is not witnessed they see no path to a deal.
I strongly suspect there is a better deal to be had, but its not 22% with none of the company's desires being addressed. They will never sign on the line, nor will they be forced to by the NMB. Its not the rejected TA either. Its in the middle somewhere. (I will not be specific on where I see the deal because everyone reads this) Polling is now continuous as it should have been last year, and some asked for that. It will show the peaks and valleys of the pilots desires. It will help time when the right time for a deal to be TAed is.
65-35 provides leverage, and its the best leverage there is, but it must be used to get a deal that can be made. Not one that we all desire but the company would never agree too. Knowing the difference is leadership, and I compel and support our new MEC to find that deal.