Originally Posted by
TheManager
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sailingfun 
I would spend a bit of time understanding how we do negotiate.
Done it.
You might be surprised that we do have professionals involved in every step of the process.
Define every step.
There are no table negotiations like some seem to think. Positions are exchanged on paper. Meetings are held only to clarify positions.
Professionals put together our positions.
Clarify professionals. Are we talking about ALPA staff lawyers?
Pilot guidance is however critical to the process since so much of how we do our job is unique to this profession.
True. Yet, easily communicated to a professional negotiation team.
Try and explain how critical a seniority number is to a non airline person and you will get a basic understanding.
Really?
I mean really? That non airline person you refer to would more than likely be a team of seasoned legal professionals adept at contract and labor law.
You state that you've spent time understanding how ALPA negotiates. It's apparent from you answers that you either didn't do your homework or didn't understand what you found out.
Pre-merger South pilots used a whole bunch of outsiders before and during negotiations for LOA 51 and the JCBA, not including the ALPA staff folks available to us. We had two different full time investment banking firms (Milestone Merchant Partners and Athena), an outside Actuary firm (Segal), outside business attorneys (Cleary Gottleib), and we worked with Groom Law Group on PBGC recovery issues. Pre-merger North pilots used an independent actuary (Buck), a couple of different investment bankers (Blue Wolf and Athena), and others. Those professionals were with us every step of the way, partipating in developing negotiating goals and strategy, then analyzing management proposals and preparing counters. We also used contacts made from our engagement on Wall Street, on Capitol Hill, and in New York to seek input on ways to enhance our effectiveness.
I hope this clears up for you what "every step" and "professionals" mean.