what is interesting is that this is the FIRST time management has admitted there is a problem with hiring/attrition/staffing.. i mean just a year and a half ago they stopped hiring and cancelled upgrade classes just to threaten us because we hadn't signed the contract they threw at us. that threat only lasted 2 months,,, and now they are paying for it.. big time. captain vacancies go unfilled, there will be 25 people to show up for class and only 10 come.. this is the first tangible evidence we have that shows management is starting to squirm... funny enough this comes out 2 days before another round of mediated negotiations are about to start. i hope we take it to the table and say raise it another 5 dollars per year and we will sign a NEW CONTRACT... the contract has been pretty much finished but we have been stuck on compensation and scope for a while now..and like i said earlier we have several rulings of grievances due by the end of the month. they are feeling the heat.