Sleepy,
You know I love you man...so take these points in the spirit of constructive criticism.
--Just compiling a few facts together, someone was able to put together a fairly impressive "anti-LOA" site
--Despite having access to more resources---attorneys, the company reps, and the ALPA staff--the MEC seems unable to send out anything except block rep letters and host a few hub meetings. I know YOU are trying, but apparently you aren't getting the help you need.
--When you have brought in BC to express his views on the negotiations, he has gotten quite animated and aggitated. I told you and TonyC that he was actually your worst enemy in trying to sell this, as he has personalized the critique to the point of losing the ability to listen and take input from the membership he serves. When he calmed down and wrote his note to the force, it was quite condescending and probably swayed more people on the fence to vote "no".
--80% of the input I have heard that even got me to consider the pros of this LOA came from you or Tony. I still respectfully will vote NO, but I appreciate your candor, work, and effort.
Which brings me to my point.
Our MEC simply doesn't have its stuff together in the comm department. EVERY meeting the leadership has confessed "yep...we blew that one" or "yep...could have been communicated better..." I've been saying for some time that a few block reps are out of touch and need to be replaced. Sounds like your own MEC members would be a lot better served with a new comm chairman. We'll see what happens after the company puts out its final "red letter" on Wednesday or so, but if this LOA gets beat down you will have lost to a few loudmouths (said tongue in cheek) on a website and some email campgains and grass roots efforts. It shouldn't have been a fair fight, but you guys are getting clobbered, and your "ace" BC has been one of your biggest liabilities. Even if this passes, you cannot say your team did a good job at all at providing the info required for such an important piece of the contract.
Your comm as SPC chair was always good. You call. You write. You stay engaged.
If you want to be part of the team that sets up for the next big battles--open skies, contracts, etc--you need a better team. I know you had to be embarrassed at the lack of preparation, tact, and information that our team has put out.
Here's my suggestion. First--actively listen more. Gather more input from the force before taking on further negotiations or deals. Truth or not, the perception is the MEC members "decide" what is important, what isnt', then try to sell it to the membership. Representive democracy or not, the fact is the MEC obviously is out of touch with a large portion of its dues paying members. Next---communicate. Hub meetings are good, but webcast, interactive internet programs/meetings, and new technology will all help get the word to more people more effectively. Embrace the new era, realize info now moves at light speed, and quit walking on eggshells at all times about legal fallout. In the concern to say the "right" thing after its been sterilized, analyzed, and measured...you have lost your voice and a lot of credibility.
Again I'll say it. I want a strong company--that makes money. I want a strong, effective union--that protects our interests while allowing the company (within reason) to do what they do best. Right now what I see is a group of out of touch union leaders that can't keep a straight story and are getting outflanked by real time communications. We need to fix this before the next big issue. I'm riding this ALPA horse all the way--but I'm willing to bet right now that if we weren't an agency shop we'd have less than the 97% membership we had last year. Let's turn this ship around.