Originally Posted by
Gunfighter
I may have projected the reasons for my NO vote onto the rest of the group. It is possible that some would consider concessions in scope or sick leave and possibly the ongoing concessions we've given in vacation and training pay for a large enough pay increase. To be more accurate, in my small sample size of the few dozen pilots I've flow with who voted NO, there haven't been any who indicated they would consider concessions in scope or sick leave, nor are they in favor of a minuscule 15' pay no credit for vacation. Based on that small sample size I'm still concerned about the original statement that the negotiating committee was given "more latitude". That term indicates that they may have been given direction to pull back from what would be an acceptable position, to one that is in more danger of failing memrat.
I think that's a very fair way to express it.
My observation is that you're right: everyone figures the group is just like them. In theory, polling and survey data help solve that problem reliably. Certainly, a vote would do the job.
Honestly, the "Focus Plus" approach of the MEC is all theirs. Until the 12 tried to renege on it, they were involved in every step of developing these AIP's. They did so thinking it would save time, but it also opened a lot of other sections, for not a lot of difference from TA1. Whatever. This is where they invested the last year, and from here, there is no way you can trash the AIP's wholesale (probably not more than a couple) without trashing the entire mediation process (i.e. square one). So you're stuck having to get a taste of the whole menu to see whether you want to order the meal or not.
In an alternate universe, maybe the MEC would have gone for a clean but smaller raise? No one knows.
Certainly what no one can say, in any small sample, is how they would vote on a TA they can't see, with some of the most important sections undetermined. I really doubt the average pilot is cool with not getting 1) a deal, and 2) a vote, no matter how they view individual concessions/gains.