I showed up very late, during DW's expletive filled diatribe. It does sound like we have the best professional negotiators possible. He emphatically explained that it doesn't matter who we have at the table if we keep having guys fly DP's, sell back vacation, fly overtime etc during contract negotiations. It wasn't until the Subic goes and W/B F/O's starting holding the line that the company started getting worried about the contract.

Someone asked if we (FDX ALPA) should endorse a candidate for Pres this year, given the animosity withing the union right now. DW explained that he understands 75% of us consider ourselves republicans or conservatives. But the union as an entity must support someone who goes along with labor beliefs. Very few people are one issue voters. But the union leadership (representing the union as a group) must throw it's support towards labor friendly candidates. If they didn't, and someone was voted in that would dismantle the RLA and our rights to negotiate, people would later complain why didn't the leadership do something before the election.