Originally Posted by
Emmerson Bigs
Can you negotiating gurus at least
try to call your reps and get some accurate info. If you did that you would be told that the "pancake plan" died in 2018. It's not happening. So if you hear someone talking about "pancakes" they are either uninformed or they are trying to use that old, outdated, no longer valid term to create division in our ranks. You'd also get told that the NC is working to improve our pension (A-plan) with all the same protections as our current DC plan. Or you could just keep spouting half-truths and rumors that have no basis in fact because they help further whatever agenda you're pushing here. Call your reps - get info from a valid source and stop the madness.
As far as the genius, self-proclaimed negotiating experts who are going to turn down the first TA just because............ If it doesn't meet your personal requirements, by all means, vote "no". But if you vote "no" out of principle because it's the "first offer" then you're an idiot. The NC is passing full language proposals section by section. That means there are multiple passes on each section before that particular section is TA'd. A section might be passed 5, 10 times or even more before it's agreed on. So, if you think you're voting down the company's "first offer" when you vote down a TA, then you're a complete moron, don't understand the bargaining process and probably shouldn't have the ability to vote. Call your rep. Seek accurate information.
Continue with your well thought out and highly informed discussions.
Thanks for putting the entirety of APC in its place.
I don't think most of us on here think that a TA contains the company's "first offer". I also don't think 5500 people calling their reps individually is the optimum way to disseminate accurate information. I think the MEC could do a better job in that area. Much of the mindset that was formed regarding the pension is a result of the vague and manipulative wording that the contract surveys were built on. At no time did the MEC ask "would you like the NC to attempt to improve the A plan" or any other of the supporting questions that would naturally go along with that - you know, something that would indicate that we're trying to improve the A plan.
To reiterate, I have no doubt that the MEC is aware that there are people harboring considerable doubt as to the direction we're headed on retirement. Some proactive communication on their part would certainly be the efficient move. Why can't the membership see the retirement openers after they're on the table? Once the company has seen it, what's the secret?
I don't want a plan with "the same protections".
I want a higher FAE cap on the current plan - period.
I don't want to work more for more years and have the NC tell me that's an improvement to my retirement. I can work more now and save the freaking money - but that's not on my to-do list.