@ 16:35 in; GT talks about arbitration and he doesn't think the company wants it now as it will slow their United next growth plans. That sounds like leverage to me.

If the company continues to slow roll ALPA, why not file now? Exert the pressure on the company, allow us to go down the path, allow us to have a meaningful strike vote at some point soon. Mediation does not stop the company from negotiating. On the contrary, it starts the clock for them to be held accountable, at some point.

Our big disadvantage however is that the companies VP of labor relations is a former Senior Mediator at the National Mediation Board. He knows how the game is played and has been playing alpa for years.

Which raises the obvious question, why hasn't alpa hired a strategist like that to assist all of us in "pattern bargaining"? (yes, I have heard we have alpa lawyers.. yawn.) You will hear in the pod cast that our strategy is very very fluid.. In other words, we don't really have one.