You responded to my rebuttal of Mudhens post that included SLMU amongst the things pilots should avoid in order to achieve an improved contract in 2020. So with your response I assumed you and Mudhen were of like mind. I don’t think SLMU is a negative thing that helps the company. I said exactly the same thing you’re saying now. If used correctly, it’s a great tool and is not a detriment to the pilot group. As far as standing up for ourselves, yes, of course we should. My point is that chanting, “fly the contract”, rings hollow because someone can always point out, that all the things most of us agree are detrimental to the group, ie, pick ups, extensions, premium, etc. are in the contract. Someone picking up premium trips is flying the contract. Someone accepting extensions is flying the contract. I think a more effective measure of standing up for ourselves is having ALPA enforce the contract to the letter. Do you think management is ever going to take the pilot group seriously if our representatives continue to roll over on our current CBA? Things like caving on the lanyards, the mountains of unsettled grievances and now, most recently, not demanding the company pay for our REQUIRED uniforms, are all examples of ALPA not enforcing our contract. You and I are on the same page here and as many have stated, a pilot either understands and abides by the rules favorable to the group as a whole, or doesn’t. While yes, we are the Union and we hold much of our fate in our own hands, I believe at this point the difference maker is going to be STONE COLD REPRESENTATION THAT STOPS GIVING THE COMPANY A BREAK AT OUR EXPENSE. If my union speaks for me, then they’ve been saying a lot lately.