Originally Posted by
HeavyD
What it illustrates is no available leverage to the pilot group. IBB '20 and that LOA last December have repeatedly shown NJASAP doesn’t know how to play the long game. I'll give an example. For 17 years NJA wouldn't budge on HBA's for everyone. Then out of the blue NJA agrees to it. Why, recruiting is why. The union signs that LOA in December and now is trying to publicly shame people into not picking up extended days. What about the pilots getting shown the door on January 10th?
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I disagreed at the time and still disagree with the decision to make 2.5 VED permanent. That choice cost the group a lot of leverage in my view despite the claim "show me how the extenders now wouldn't have extended at 1.5 if we hadn't signed the loa." Impossible to prove. But human nature would seem to indicate that at least SOME of the current extenders wouldn't extend at 1.5 and this is a game of 1000 cuts, right?
I've had my disagreements with union leadership's decisions on a number of issues now and in the past and made no bones about it. But I still support the effort to secure a new contract in every way I can, including carrying a sign for three days running. The notion that a new slate of "leaders" to replace the current E-Board is a good idea can only be chalked up to hubris, ignorance, or stooges trying to help the company secure a concessionary contract (usually the latter.)
As for the Age 70 MRA, the union filed the grievance, argued it to the best of their ability, and fulfilled their DFR. The grievance is going to fail despite those efforts. In a weird way, the departing pilots' sacrifice will actually help the group by adding another cut that draws the company closer to empty cockpits and parked metal because of this management team's incompetence.