Understand that frustration, and its valid. The interim deals (which I supported) didn't fix that. That wasn't Webb's administration, it was on Stratton's watch. And I voted as an MEC rep for the first one (out of office by second one)...so I am part of the problem on that one. My thoughts were "move the chains" one year, then reopen. It didn't happen that way. It was a compromise deal, and it had flaws. It did, however, keep the pay band moving up instead of stagnating.

The argument about the "bump to the bump" is that we got a B plan in 1998. Some of those guys retiring with the extra bump got only 6, 8, 10 years max of B fund contributions (and at 6% vice current 8% and eventually 9%). When you look at their retirement verses what a guy with another few years of B plan under his belt, the concept was it should be fairly close. Now--time has eroded some of the A plan value since then, and there are other threads with discussions on what to do there next...I don't have the answers.

Point is not to have a contract discussion, but rather point out the amalgam that is our contract has had many cooks.... Every shortfall should not be placed in the Webb team's lap (is it cold in here? Did hell just freeze over? Am I defending Dave Webb?). I know because there have been a lot of officers and reps pass through since 06, me included.

Mark--I know you have frustrations--some very valid. Here's another question--how does our disability stack up against other carriers? If you were out at another company, would you be anywhere as close to protected as you are now? One of our former LEC reps is also out now and I during our last conversation (a couple years ago) he expressed appreciation for that benefit and how it has allowed him to go on. If we pick apart every piece of the contract we have, and resent anyone who might have something we don't, we'll never get that far ahead. It doesn't mean we cannot do post-mortems on past contracts, or review mistakes or areas for improvements. I just don't think completely vilifying pilots working for pilots improves the process most of the time. Address contract shortfalls. Offer alternatives and tradeoffs. Make cost assessments, and then move on.

Go have a coffee with your rep. Visit someone on a committee. Try to dig in and see some of the challenges they face. I was outside throwing rocks like many here at one point--and then got inside. I still flung a few, but found out there were often more angles and challenges than I realized. And like I said--there are guys I respect for their efforts but think are just flat wrong sometimes...but that is the nature of the beast. There are always issues that are ongoing that distract from long term issues as well. I'm not saying give anyone a pass, or don't read the fine print--but there is often a lot more moving parts than meet the eye from this vantage point.