That list has a lot of items on it that I would rather not place on a public forum that the company and their negotiators can view. With that being said, I will touch on some things AR and staff can do immediately that would help unify our pilot group.

Communication: the lack of communication from our EXCO is truly unacceptable. I'm uncertain if they expect us to continue this "blind faith" that they keep advocating for. If that’s the case, they need to realize that we’re not the typical IBT local, most of us are highly educated. Blind faith may be a bit easier to garner with a group of blue-collar truckers or baristas. The exco has had members of their own local offer to help provide communication, only for AR himself to say “That would be one additional meeting I need to hold, I don’t have the time.”. What union begs for help but then immediately denies it where it is desperately needed.

Grieve Everything: AR has a few calling cards; this is a big one. The local advocates for grieving absolutely anything. Do we have a regularly violated CBA that leads to numerous grievances? Yes. Do we have some pilots grieving frivolous items just to add to the list? Of course, we do. There should be much more emphasis placed on grievances of substance. In addition to this, our track record of grievances losses is egregious. We have lost some must-wins lately. Wins that would be all but guaranteed by having proper representation, not culinary attorneys.

Clear Negotiating: Before you “educate” me on the negotiating process, I’ve been at the table at an ALPA carrier dozens of times. I understand the clear line between acceptable transparency and letting in too much light into the process. Do any of us even know what AR is after? The rumor mill is turning quicker than our attrition, the latest product is that AR has suddenly abandoned the need for NavBlue stating that CBI works, we just need them to honor seniority. Well duh, it doesn’t matter what we use to bid, PBS is PBS but what good is it if we can’t get the company to honor what we already have in place? What good has the fight been the last 4+ years to desperately walk away from CBI if we suddenly are okay with CBI?

I’m jumping back on the boat, let me know what you think Tom!