Originally Posted by
ShyGuy
I shouldn’t play. I really shouldn’t. So. Would you agree we have the best team possible representing us? I think we do. I think our union reps and the negotiating committee are top notch and doing a good job representing our needs. Agreed? So why don’t we have a contract yet? The APC crowd that hates seniors thinks we have lots of leverage, so clearly I’m missing something. Where’s the leverage being played out today, nearly 2 yrs since the amendable date? Next question, do you see a contract in the near immediate future? Later this year? Next year? Where does this “we have lots of leverage” play itself out?
Man I know what ya mean Shy about “I shouldn’t play.” Lol I think that nearly every time I post too. 😂 Truly….
And, we agree 💯 about our Union reps and negotiating team. If there’s better I don’t who they’d be.
But, ONE of those years just got bushwhacked by the pandemic, so there goes that. Then, Another year got lost trying to negotiate in good faith. Though I’ll grant that’s a dubious endeavor with people who use “Do the right thing.” as a marketing slogan as opposed to a character trait.
IF you believe that our team is solid, and wise, then you have to believe that they posses tactical wisdom as well. And they’ve given me no reason to doubt them so far.
We have some pretty dang big costly negotiating points that have to be addressed for the next contract to have a snowball’s chance in hell of passing. It would take patience if we had ONE. This pilot group so far has been EXCELLENT!!! Seriously. No wild cat job actions. No hostages. Just patience and resolve.
Now we’re in mediation. And, the next chapter will be very interesting because, I can PROMISE you WE are negotiating in good faith. That’s a foreign concept to Alaska management and they’re gonna either change and come to the table with legit solutions or if they don’t hopefully what WE come to the table with paints a stark contrast to the mediator of what “good faith” does and doesn’t look like, and what we NEED, is to either get a solid contract or him to see the company’s tactics for what they are and release the parties for a cooling off period and what comes after that.
Im fully prepared for the latter. (And everything that comes with that.) All of us need to be, because, honestly I don’t think this management team has any concept of a world where they don’t bully, cajole, or infiltrate their way to getting their way. But, hopefully data points, wisdom, big picture, and humility will guide their actions the way it did in the final moments before the Covid leaves became the pathway.