Originally Posted by
310skying
You seem to misunderstand mediation, and arbitration. All Eva can do is declare an impasse, she can’t force us to meet in the middle or push either side in one direction or the other. If progress stops being made an impasse is declared and it goes to the full 3 person NMB. Mediation is non binding and a step in the process. Even the railroads got released from mediation into a cooling of period… it was the presidential board and congress that stoped their strike. The same won’t happen to us because we don’t have the same impact. Do a little more digging on to the whole section six process and understand the powers the mediator actually has. A strike is a very realistic probability assuming we can limp along with enough pilots to make it that far without a schedule collapse
You are proving my point: she declares an impasse. If the union is trying to rush to be released or is being unrealistic she will not declare an impasse. You are VASTLY underestimating the control and power a mediator has on the process. She cannot force the parties to do anything, but she can keep the union from engaging in self help for as long as she wants if she believes the union is not negotiating in good faith.
The fact that you think an impasse is when “progress is no longer being made” and then it’s off to the NMB for cooling off and then release is laughable. The mediator decides when the parties are at an impasse and I don’t believe AR and our culinary attorney will be as convincing and persuasive as jerrry glass, FH and the company’s hired guns.