I think if my union says UAL owes us something, weather it's in the form of date of signing pay, or in the form of benefits earned then I'd say we are owed those moneys/benefits. My union speaks for me, both at the negotiating table and at the grievance table.

I don't think it's chest pounding to assert an affirmative position on the matter.

Our pilot negotiators acted on our behalf to get us the best possible deal and do it on the company's time-line and not ours. We met the company at the bargaining table, we agreed to the extension that management suggested. Therefore, I think we, the pilots are owed the benefit of the doubt on this one. The pilots weren't the ones begging for a deal, management was.

I tend to believe ALPA grievance. They have an excellent track record so far when it comes to contract compliance. How many grievances did that guy Todd Insler win when we got this new contract? basically Tom Stivala, and that guy Jackson Martin lost their labor relations jobs because he wiped the floor with their booties on a daily basis.