Originally Posted by
Nightflyer
Yeah, "ask your rep". Good luck getting "your" rep to give you a straight answer. Good luck getting them to answer in an email vs. over the phone, so they can't be quoted on it. Good luck getting any specific question answered by your rep about the contract negotiations. Oh, and if you ask the NC, they will either, 1) ignore your email (personal experience) or 2) tell you to ask your rep.
It's a circle jerk, and no one will tell you anything truthful. So yeah, "ask your rep", and make them feel important while you waste your time.
"Ask your rep" what an effin joke.
Tony, I am hoping and counting on you being the exception, but you aren't in office yet. Also, the ALPA lawyers will no doubt try to muzzle you.
And the current MEC wonders why they don't have the support of the crew force, seriously?
I agree there are Headwinds to say the least trying to ask reps questions. "Trust the process" is not an answer, but my rep sure knows how to say that and (whatever) is "old business." The lack of accountability some reps are guilty of will only be muted when they are our of office.
So, if your reps are unwilling to have meaningful conversations and represent our points of view, it may be time for you to start the process to replace them. The process sucks, it is weighted against us, and you will be called names by anonymous keyboard commandos, but, it might just be worth a new contract with the improvements we demand.
Here is the thing, If the current reps are so tone deaf they bring us an unratifiable TA, the replacement process will happen but only with a great loss of time. It is better to have the conversations now.
It is way past the time to hold our reps accountable to US. Not the other way around. The Covid cocoon they have been hiding in must be torn down. NOW.
And yes, trust me, there will be a lot of blowback on you during the process, but is your new CBA worth it!
In the end, few will go back and do an "after action report" about the things they said and how they got it so wrong. The truth hurts, a lot.
So, in the immortal words of Leslie Nielsen, "Good luck, we are all counting on you."