I pretty much think this ship has sailed. What incentive would the company have to make changes now? They have a deal in place that provides them pilots in the FDA, under the RLA (read: no local stikes) provisions, all at a fairly low cost.

The only way I can see any further adjustments are if the FDAs go largely unfilled. That means that individual members will ultimately make the final call on whether or not these are manned (initially). However, the company can hire into these FDAs or use STVs for a period of 2 years. Yeah...I know the Q&A says that STV is not a tool for manning shortfalls...but you can cut and paste that if you like and grieve it later. The LOA language allows for it, and in a pinch I think that tool would be used. Why not? WE gave it to them.

Finally--how would it sound for the union to tell the same membership it lobbied HARD to approve the LOA to "not bid those FDAs" or "work with us while we make some changes". Two practice bids into the process is a bit late to suddenly decide we have a problem. I don't think the company has any vested interest in bailing out our union on this one. And--if they DID "save us from ourselves", I have to wonder what they'd want in exchange down the road.

The fact is the outcome of how this LOA plays out is in the hands of individual pilots. If you really want to go, but think the deal still has room for improvement, your options including not bidding it and hoping it gets better. The company and the union will tell you it won't make a difference, and to bid what you want to fly. That may in fact be 100% accurate. But those 40 vacancies seem to have a lot of people discussing the merit of the agreement, so again--I think this will come down to the choice of a handful of individuals.