That is how pattern bargaining works. You take the positives gained by other properties and negotiate from that position.

"Pattern Bargaining: Collective bargaining in which the union tries to apply similar pay and work rules to multiple employers in the same industry. ALPA, through the national Collective Bargaining Committee, works to establish, maintain, and advance the prevailing pay rates and working conditions for each segment of the industry by coordinating bargaining strategies with MECs and Negotiating Committees across ALPA properties." Source: https://www.alpa.org/ala/-/media/ALA...sary.pdf?la=en


PBS, Purple already has PBS for a significant portion of pilots. Not only are those pilots stuck with PBS but they get their schedule very late in the month. Delta's vacation will be worth nearly the same as Purple's with the new language, admittedly they do not have the same flexibility with their vacation due to lack of conflict language, has nothing to do with PBS. Delta pilot's did not desire a pension and the proof is in the TA voting. Despite the Purple MEC spreading the false premise that Delta negotiations had failed due to the lack of pension restoration, over 70% of their pilots were just fine with the current massive B plan with cash over cap. As I have told my Purple reps, MEC politics are often not representative of pilot desire. I believe we will see that here.

Things to prepare to hear from your reps:

• "The time value of money must be taken into account if we don't pass this TA." That is a scare tactic to get pilots to vote yes. Don't fall for it.
• "That is not a concession. The total value of the gains exceed the total value of the concessions so that was a choice and not a concession." Insulting wordplay. I am guessing that the majority of the concessions will be borne by First Officer's. 25.U for example.
• "Polling data overwhelmingly supported that position." The polling data was collected during a very different time. It's unfortunate that a deal wasn't made sooner but here we are and the times, they are a changing.
• "Scope isn't enforceable." IPA/UPS has a proven track record of enforcing the exact type of Scope that is being suggested. Unfortunately, the most senior in our group have failed to secure language in Section 1 and now want to gamble the future of many to enrich those retiring today.
• "We can't reopen any section because the mediator will claim we aren't negotiating in good faith." How about crafting a presentation about how the industry has changed since our negotiations began. We attempted to secure a deal earlier and now the landscape has changed and our position must change in order to be considered by our pilots that we are negotiating in good faith. Mediator is more important to this MEC/NC than their own pilots. Who will be the arbiter of this deal?

This entire process is very reminiscent of Delta's 2015 TA. I can tell you with full confidence that the DALPA MEC at the time was convinced they had a great deal and they were very proud of it. There was shock when it was voted down and voted down "bigly". Again, FDXALPA MEC members (and don't fool yourself, they have their own echo chamber, they are no different than the echo chambers they accuse us of existing in) more often than not do not look to the membership to guide their position. They look to the other, often more senior, MEC members and ask for marching orders. Blocks 3 and more junior and 11 should be yelling from the rooftops that we are in for a bad deal.