We need to be talking about leadership, not who is doing what, or which group is being selfish.

Contract '15 brought a lot of mistrust to Kirby. The MEC failed us on so many levels back then.

But like then, we now have taken our eyes off the prize. Our NC chair talked fondly over the weekend about his big win in section 5. He glows about being able to sell back even more vacation in section 7. Can someone please explain what I am missing? How is that leadership. How is it he can talk about those wins, but anything to do with retirement is Strictly Executive Session, unless you are part of the in crowd (see the list of attendees on each of the meetings).

"Our unity will be essential...". Really, when does that start?

Our union is leading in executive session.

Our elected leaders are letting the SMEs do more than inform, they are letting the SMEs make policy. DOL rules, the ALPA C&B, the Admin manual, and the MEC policy manual are all clear on where the responsibility resides. The elected reps. They must lead.

Doing the right thing and wanting to do the right thing are two different things. Leadership and buy-in are the difference.

All of us are or have been captains, that means we are all leaders. It is time for us to lead and have the adult conversations which will ensure we get the contract we deserve.

Clearly I and others have failed to be persuasive enough, so here we are. It's time.

Lead, follow or get out of the way. The contract we deserve depends on it.

In the end, I won't make any difference. But together we can, or we can just sit back and let it happen to us again. The choice is yours.