Originally Posted by
Bitcoin
Who misinformed you that the union hasn't been serious about negotiations? Why do you think we have mostly only been negotiating on the few sparse scheduled mediation days over the last 2 years even though the union is available to negotiate every day outside of mediation? The trustee isn't controlling what the negotiators can TA, they don't even need approval from him. Most if not all are taking pay cuts, not running for any slate and can't wait to step down after the TA drops.
The NMB can deny the status meeting. What you're saying is not a mutually exclusive set of outcomes so your 'if this than that" conclusion is not correct. Like I said before, this is a very similar situation to WN in 2023 just 4 months before their TA. WN made a great decision by declaring the impasse even though they didn't get released and it seemed like a mistake at the time to some. We're most likely within 4-8 months from getting released but swap unions, dump your cash bank and you're looking at another 2-3 years easy. As far as the negotiation strategy I've already previously explained the cost analysis disadvantage you put yourself in and why the union just downgraded their strategy.
Now look, I understand the instinct to compare this to WN in 2023. But let us be honest with ourselves. Our situation is not the same. We declared impasse four months ago, and since then, we have essentially stopped negotiating. The problem is, five major sections were still open or had not even been passed across the table in mediated sessions. That is not a true impasse, and it sends the wrong message to both the NMB and the company.
Yes, the NMB can deny a status meeting or a release. That is always a possibility. But we cannot base our entire strategy on what might happen if we just wait long enough. Declaring impasse without exhausting the process weakens our position. We gave up forward movement in mediation, and now we are stuck defending a stall out, largely over PBS unstacking, an issue most of the pilot group has no appetite to delay a contract over.
Let us be real. The idea that we are four to eight months from release is not a plan. It is a hope. And if we are wrong, we are burning time, pilot patience, and credibility. You only get so many chances to keep the group unified and engaged. And right now, that is slipping.
Hope is not a strategy. Discipline is. Listening to the group matters. Timing matters. If we are serious about delivering, then we need to stop justifying inaction and start fixing the direction we are heading. Because the longer we wait on a strategy the group does not support, the harder it is going to be to bring everyone with us when it really counts.