The words below are not my own. I was asked by a friend who is unable to post on this board (APC not accepting new members?) to post his comments on this LOA/No Leverage Fiasco:

HELLO McFly!!!!!

Well, it sure is a good thing that we bought off on the LOA so quickly, cause we all know that the company will never come back with enhancements or improvements if we sent the neg committee back to the table. What they sent down was absolutely the best we were going to get. No way would they come back with more. They will do it without us!!

Let's just look at these few jewels of wisdom. "As we learned from Subic". "Will surely learn", "unexpected idiosyncrasies", "could not be anticipated".
Excuse me, but did we, or did we not, yell at the top of our lungs, in the weeks before the vote, exactly our concerns about this precise problem?
"Unexpected?" I don't know how we could have been more clear about how inadequate the LOA is. But what do we know. We have only been living out here for years. We only spent time in Hong Kong and actually talked to leasing agents in person. We only did actual research and had documentations to back it up. But what do we know?

"It has become clear". Maybe when they see that they can't fill seats in HKG and CDG, their vision suddenly started to improve. Too bad their hearing didn't improve earlier when we were doing the above mentioned yelling and screaming.

"a substantial security deposit may be required". Not may be required. WILL be required. Again, we showed example after example of this requirement, but nobody listened.

I can't help but wonder what would have happened if we sent them back to the table to come up with a fair LOA that would address all the issues properly. But I guess they did such a good job of convincing us all that the LOA as it stands, is the best we can get. No more, no way. Take it or leave it.
So they came back with the STV modification when they heard the crew concerns about the 3 months stints. Tweak it just enough to get it passed.

Now they see the seats going unfilled in HKG and CDG, so they are coming back with a bit more to "help us out". I guess that is where the extra practice bid comes in handy. They can offer just enough to get to the point of filling the seats. Maybe toss one more enhancement before the bid closes and hope for the best.

I guess it would be too difficult to just follow the lead of the hundreds of companies that have been doing business in HKG for years, and already know what kind of expat package is needed to properly address the needs and concerns of people who are being required to move themselves and families to a foreign assignment, for the benefit of that company.

Maybe we are just hurting for money,and need to nickel and dime the pilots in order to help out the impoverished billion dollar company. Hell, lets tell them up front, that they are going to have to come out of pocket about $2000 per month in order to live there. Schooling, deposits, etc? On your own, buddy! Oh wait, they are offering to help with the deposits now. Sorry, I digress. Allow me to retort!! What does the Fedex crew force, look like? (if you have seen Pulp Fiction, you know where this is headed).

Anyway, it will be interesting to see how it all shakes out in the final chapters of this saga.

Can't hardly wait for the next round of contract negotiations. After all, what kind of message are we sending to the company if we reject their substandard offers?

I just hope we are not so quick to ask "how high" the next time the company and our neg committee says, "Jump!"

Hxxx

Someone save me a seat at the F. St. Station, and order me up an Alaskan Amber. I'll be along shortly.

ANC bound and down