Originally Posted by Chrisx2

Every post I've seen from you has been attacking someone else. Nobody here is debating that we're underpaid compared to industry standard. Everybody wants a contract now. The fact is that the NC is in direct negotiations and progress is being made, albeit slower than we all would prefer. The company made a low ball offer on compensation (according to the union blast) but that's not the last best final offer. It's a starting point. We still have open sections that are being negotiated. Why would they give the farm away in compensation while the real tough scheduling sections are in play? They're just negotiating. When I go to buy a new vehicle, I don't start out at the highest amount I'm willing to pay. I low ball and go from there.

Next question people will ask is why aren't we seeking mediation or picketing? Well for starters, we have a good amount of negotiating meetings on the books right now. Add in a mediators schedule and that dwindles because you have to find times suitable to three different parties, not two. So we want to knock out what we can in direct negotiations prior to seeking mediation for what we would then know are the sections or subsections we are not making progress in direct negotiations. As far as picketing, the mediators would not look fondly on our group picketing while progress is being made in direct negotiations. The MEC and NC have a plan. Have some patience - I know it's tough and we've had a union for two years now, but we will get there. We're not amending a contract, we're starting from scratch.

And now here's where you'll call me a blue juicer and company apologist and go on some tirade about how I don't get it.