Not to sound like a smart@ss, but really throwning out an idea..

We'll need to do this again in 2010. That isn't that far away. If you have genuine heartburn with your committee this time, join the next one and get involved with your ideas.

I'm not the most active union member, but I do try to stay informed. I personally met with Sleepy before he was SPC and we discussed a bunch of issues. His effort, committment, and willingness to go to the mat for his bros (my block at the time) completely impressed me. I also live in the same town as one of the NC members. Every time I'd see him a flight to MEM, I'd ask about the issues and what he could tell me. When we got our survey a few years back (which I thought was an excellent product with summation of other company's contracts) I put a lot of thought and effort into what I thought I wanted out of the contract. Since that time, I've bought a hat, kept up with the ALPA website (which had our opener and the company opener posted for MONTHS!), and dumped about 600 hours into my makeup bank. What shocks me is as little as I've done, many haven't even done that.

So far--the biggest complaints I've heard have been 1. Retro should be on hours worked, not a forumula (fat chance--why should the MEC reward those who worked AGAINST their own negotiating committee) If you flew ONE extra trip since "family awareness month", you are part of the problem. 2. the pay should be higher per hour. The fact is many of these boards from UPS knew what we were asking for wages before a lot of FDX guys, because they took the time to research and read out proposals. If you didn't know what we were even asking for because you were too lazy to read your own union website, you can't possibly have a legitimate beef with the NC now. There was a window to raise your concerns to your block reps...but that ship has long since sailed.

We all had hundreds of individual decisions to make, and with the cumulative actions taken I personally thought the NC got even more than I could have expected them to get in this environment. So--I trust them. I certainly trust them a lot more than my co-workers who are just now getting around to figuring out what we really asked for. You guys are trying to do an In-range checklist at 800 feet on final. It CAN be done--but its a mess and you are just making everyone else on the crew jump through their butts...

So--honestly--if you are that upset...start your plans. Make your lists. Do your research. I'm sure the guys who have been put through the ringer this time will be glad to go back to being line guys or OTHER committee members instead of the Negotiating team. Step up, grab a bat, and do some great work. And when you get there...this guy will read everything you put out, do what the SPC asks, and generally have your back. Just like this time...