So last time...

The company is pretty adept at doing the minimum, but just enough, to keep negotiations going. Now that we have a new mediator, all the history of the company stalling tends to be forgotten/lost and their tactics are new and fresh to the new guy. Negotiation sessions seem to be about 1 every month or two so it's not beyond belief for me that the mediator will start to tire of the lack of progress after about 6 to 9 sessions (keeping in mind that there will be holidays, busy summer flying and the company can change members of their negotiation team and use that as an excuse as well). It's almost comical the breadth of the excuses the company seems to dream up. However, at some point, an impasse will be declared (Jan/Feb 2026). Then, a mandatory waiting period.

After that, we have to be asked for binding arbitration which the union will not agree to (only takes one side to say no).

After that, another mandatory waiting (cooling off) period.

After that, our plea for self-help goes before the current administration (Trump et al) for permission.

I may have missed a few other milestones/hurdles but in all, I'd say Summer 2027