I suspected this might come up and I respectfully disagree. I don't think talking about what we want or ideas from other carrier's contracts in a "public" forum hurts our negotiating position.
And yet the people responsible for negotiating contracts on pilots behalves across the industry tend to think so. We as pilots love to maintain and display our independence of thought, even when we're given guidance to the contrary by those who are more knowledgeable on a particular subject.
First off, what's public and what is private? Call me paranoid but I don't think any conversation we have regarding the contract can be considered private. In the crew room, on the bus or on a layover you don't know exactly whom you're talking with. Could seem cool, could be PC's best friend.
Totally agree with you there.
Either way it might get back to the company negotiators.
True, but they can't quantify/substantiate it. It's one thing for them to make suppositions to our negotiators or a mediator about our groups' wishes and whether the NC truly represents them, it's another for them to be able to print chaff from a thread that's bound to go double digits in posts if we let it to support those suppositions.
Using a wide-ranging medium such as APC to collaborate seems like a very easy and effective way to brain storm as a group.
In general, serious group brainstorming in this industry does not belong on any forum, e-mail or other electronic medium. Convenient? Yes, but fraught with issues. Not all will agree, but imho it's best to keep your previously spoken paranoia on such things.
In the end, the union's negotiating team is going to decide how to approach their openers, not you or me (directly at least).
True and you described the best way to do it, contacting your rep. Nothing written here will ever be considered official union guidance, nor should it be. Therefore, it can't really help but can possibly hurt. If any of us wants it to be official, we must contact our reps and/or show up at a meeting, volunteer, etc. Otherwise we don't really have much business complaining about the results, no matter how much our individual dues are.