We should all know this by now, but I'll lay it out in case you don't.

RETRO is the only monetary motivation that the company has to not drag this out for all eternity. If 100% retro is paid, then from a strictly pay perspective it's almost as if the new contract had been reached on opening day. And if that's the case, then perhaps it motivates them a little more to reach an agreement to offset things like attrition, morale, or the inability to attract qualified applicants to begin with.

A signing bonus is just that. Money that can be paid out whenever, giving the company every motivation to prolong the old contract.

Granted, it's not that simple. There are other ways in which the company profits, such as prolonging poor trip and duty rigs, rest requirements etc.

To not ask for full retro is a failure on ALPA National's part, not just on our MEC. I am of the mindset that every contract signed should include 100% retro. Making 100% retro pay "Industry Standard" will go a long ways towards helping out *ALL* pilot groups in the future.

As long as we are handcuffed to the outdated *RAILWAY* Labor Act, this is one of very few weapons that we have. The fact that some of us don't know this is proof enough that change is needed.