Originally Posted by
akulahunter
I don't necessarily disagree with much of what you said. It's just that your tone in saying it seems more like a personal vendetta against AR or that it has an ulterior motive, rather than just adding your two cents. With that said...
1. ALPA wouldn't help us in this negotiation. At least not until MG gets it through his thick skull what items are required to keep and attract pilots in today's environment (noting that it got more expensive today with JBs AIP). After this CBA, let's come back and have a discussion on the next course of action. For now, truckers are the hand we have been dealt and that's the hand we have to play. *****ing about it doesn't change the facts and isn't useful.
2. I threw that garbage in the trash without reading it.
3. I don't think any of the assessment money has been spent as of yet. So you can rest a little easier at night.
4. I completely agree. More substantive information would be great, but to be honest, ARs last video pretty much said we weren't making any progress. Not sure what you want him to say. He can't outright say "drop your apps, we aren't getting anywhere." That could be construed as a work action or not negotiating in good faith. Read between the lines: Alaska = New Deal which is much better than what they have offered, UAL/AA = voted down offers that were SIGNIFICANTLY better than what they offered, Spirit = AIP essentially equal to Alaska, JB = AIP significantly better than Alaska, DAL = AIP that leads them all (overall). The fact that we don't have a legitimate offer on the table yet should speak volumes to anyone here.
5. Scheduled negotiations Today, Tomorrow, and three days next week. If we don't hear from the union that there is an AIP by next Thursday, I'm pretty sure the message is loud and clear about where this is going. If you aren't 100% a lifer, you need to drop apps. No deal in December (projected NMB filing from earlier this year) should equal NMB in January. If six different companies either agreeing to a deal or voting down deals that are worlds better than the garbage they have offered so far doesn't clue them in, then we're in for a long haul.
6. I would expect that AR update you want to come Thursday or Friday next week after these negotiations. The real question is, will it be an AIP or a prepare for the NMB message?
It's not that I have a personal vendetta against AR, I just think that if we're paying for representation that they should uphold themselves to the standards we deserve. We have a union president who jumps on our "official" union forum (a social media page) and releases his updates there. Not to mention that he and the exco live in the comment sections of posts. While I completely agree with their message in most of those comments, the avenue of relaying it needs to change. This isn't student council, I don't want to see my union president in a back and forth on facebook. Do what every other union does, release a statement on letterhead that touches on everything you can legally divulge and get back to the negotiating table.