Here is how I think it went. The older guys that voted No, voted out of fear of losing their jobs or they 'think' PBS is going to be better for them. The newer guys that have never worked in a corporation before, listened to our leadership (ALPA) who are our elected officials who told them to vote for the TA. Sure I think a lot of the naive people believed ALPA when they said we will get it ALL next time. Then there was the camp that though it's better than what have we now so lets just do it.

Our ALPA leaders did a pretty good sales job on this whole thing. However the truth of the pudding will be in the eating. You can't tell me the ALPA strategy will not work. What would happen in 2 or 3 years time if we did get industry leading contracts for those 6 carriers? Would you still criticise Mesa guys for being bottom feeders for their 08 contract or commend our ALPA leadership in their negotiating strategy?

Yeah okay I know it is a big 'what if' scenario but give the slagging off a break. ALPA acted in what they believe is our best interests, the people that voted yes did so because they truly believed it was the right thing to do. Nobody in the Mesa pilot group voted for this TA with the logic "if I vote for this TA then I will continue to be underpaid thus Mesa's operating costs can be the lowest in the industry and JO can steal contracts from the noses of other more expensive regional carriers."

It was a yes vote because the majority of Mesa pilots believed it to be the best contract we can get right now. End of story.