Originally Posted by
bluto13
This is where I feel we failed in allowing the negotiation to be framed as a comparison to TA1, which was soundly defeated by the pilot group, vice what we actually desired. We had an opportunity to drastically reframe the debate citing the first ever down vote coupled with pretty dramatic union turnover but instead went for the easier route of "focus plus." We never even broached retirement or medical, even as a potential give aways for other gains. I feel a significant amount of the yes vote was with very serious misgivings, with fear of never getting anything better given our recent TA counters history.
I agree that retirement and medical are still lacking. There is a limit as to how much you can get in one TA no matter what is lacking and regardless of our profits. I think we got as much as we could this time and it was up the the MEC and NC to put it into the appropriate sections of the contract. Poll results pointed to people wanting pure cash.
Retirement is now a DC and I don't think it will be addressed in the future except for through that.
Medical is weak compared to other professions like teachers. That definitely has to be addressed.