Absolutely it takes two and you are right, there is no way to force them and the NMB really can’t force them either, but can provide some pressure.

Interestingly, some on the MEC and at least one candidate in 44 has questioned whether we even should go to mediation. I would expect that to be a discussion going forward.

I only speak of “his boys” because of how critical “his boys” were of all things ALPA in the past. Now they are the dance partner and their partner doesn’t want to dance, so now it isn’t the MEC’s fault although they were the first to blame the MEC in the past.

It seems like the new mantra is “at least they haven’t caved” but if you go back and look at the LOAs as someone posted on FB, they weren’t concessionary or selling anything as they are portrayed. So there was progress for the Delta pilots by having a business like approach instead of a reactionary one. (At least to this point)

I know some are willing to wait “as long as it takes” for the perfect contract, but there is no retro when it comes to work rules and scope. That does not mean moving to the company table position or even close on the JVs, but sitting back doing nothing while AM grows within the confines of 1E2 (or whatever the section is) doesn’t seem to be working.