Originally Posted by
RyeMex
We have in all likelihood entered a new recession, if not a new depression. The union leadership knew that we were rolling the dice with time with our current strategy. Unfortunately, we seem to have lost this gamble.
We'll never know what the real dynamic was during this negotiation cycle. You say the union made a gamble but there just as likely wasn't anything to gamble with. If Atlas management stonewalled at the table there is absolutely nothing the union could do. If the plan all along was to ram through amalgamation no matter how long it took, then no amount of deal (aside form full capitulation and 0% increase in any contract section, maybe) would of done the trick. They probably knew how bad the pain would be and how long it would take from Day 1. All they had to do was sit and wait and be ok with competitors eat away at a little market share for the time being.
They are just looking at the long game far beyond one silly pilot contract.