Originally Posted by
flyguy81
Started negotiating March 2020 and shortly paused it due to Rona. Started back up in 2021 and filed for mediation in Sept 2022. I can see why they didn’t immediately file as the Rona recovery was strong but long term effects of losing tons of $$$ were unknown. Maybe they thought market forces (AK/DL) would force SWA’s hand faster and then filed when it didn’t.
I would’ve preferred filing faster but what’s done is done. UAL and AA got deals without mediators so you never know what’ll finally trigger mgt to get something done.
I suspect we were balancing two forces while waiting to file for mediation. This union has never gotten as far down the RLA path as we are now, and there was probably hesitancy and some disbelief in the full force of the RLA (see JWs drive by union post....put your hope in a cult of personalities vs the RLA path) balanced against that little voice in the back of your head that wants to believe the other side might behave like Colleen says they ought and maybe they'll lead with some luv.
Not forgiving it and I'm of the mind that we waited a year too long allowing Comrade Carl to screw around. We kept writing emails about how he'd show up unprepared and unwilling to negotiate for far too long and it's gotten us to where we are today. Whining about labor relations pulling labor relations shenanigans wasn't particularly productive, but we wasted a year and a half doing it anyway.