Same exact reason why SW pilots did not ask for industry leading wages at the time SW used to be a stepping stone into a legacy job. Because they did not believe they can get it and because you need leverage to ask for that. Leverage in terms of your company being strong with a significant market share, has been making money, has been growing... things that will make you believe as a pilot that you will not destroy your company by asking for too much, and you will not put them into a no growth scenario. That last one is very important because it is not even about upgrade. If you stay small, you will get eaten. Then you get a staple or worse a pref interview. That is why.

As long 80-90% of the pilots are not convinced above the above mentioned items, they will vote in a marginal contract. You need leverage to have the balls to vote NO. That is why you need it the first place. We do not have much leverage for an industry leading contract with our 28 planes, our beaten pilots, and the current recession. However we do have enough to achieve some improvements. May be even industry average. I hope.