Admit we are not negotiators
IMHO we can't build a new house until we fix the foundation. With that in mind;
1. Professional Negotiators, the "bringing a knife to a gun fight" analogy can not be used enough here.
2. Vote in a MEC who will protect this crew force from themselves, Anita and a few others from the 2015 fiasco were the only voices of reason. The company negotiators are still hungover from their 2015 victory celebration over us.
3. Do NOT entertain any offers that do not address the crew force with equal compensation, it doesn't have to be the same but it does have to be equal $. A couple of examples; past payments to senior members for retirement healthcare and bonus $ for members who notify the company of their retirement date a year in advance ( I think that applied to pilots age 53 or older at the time of signing?)