Way to miss the forest for the trees, there Sparky.

 

I'm not. We've made progress. We closed sections. It's still too slow. But it's incorrect to say no discernable progress.

 

You see correct. I misread.

To be honest, though, the company and mediator are likely to argue that we have only effectively been under mediation for less than a year since the company and union agreed to stop negotiating during Covid.

 

At a bare minimum, the next session will have "meaningful progress". The company knows without it, we are released. I predict the DH language gets resolved to something almost in line with the industry. Delta knows this is a requirement and will offer it up, just like they did with vacation. It buys them more time to stall on pay and scheduling. It's possible Delta will "read the room" and determine it's also time for improvement on Sec 3 & 23.

While I'm optimistic about getting an AIP, there is no hiding the disappointment about proving EB was wrong about a strike. I was looking forward to adding a little flair (strike pin) to the uniform.

 

Okay, then change “no decernible progress” for “clear impass on a few final, critical items”. Either language might get the judge to agree to order the mediator to move things along.

 

We'll see what happens this week. It's notable who all is going to be in attendance and where they are meeting.

 

I don’t agree.

If most pilots in a pilot group believe, for example, one of the commonly believed myths about the RLA like “the mediator can put us on ice forever,” then they can also develop the mindset that attempting to walk further down the RLA path is pointless. “Therefore,” they’ll claim, “we should take whatever it is the company is offering because we’re never going to get released.”

Believing something like that, members of the pilot group apply pressure to the MEC, many of whom don’t really understand the RLA themselves, to settle the negotiations sooner rather than later, and on terms that are less favorable to pilots than could have been achieved if their leverage under the RLA had been more fully developed. The argument among the MEC then becomes something like, “Look, the pilot group wants a contract And the RLA is pointless anyway. It gives all the advantage to the company. The mediator can just hold us in mediation forever. We’re here to represent the pilot group. They want a contract now. So let’s just settle this thing and give the pilot group their contract.”

It matters very much what the majority of the pilot group believes about the RLA because, at the end of the day, the MEC is going to do what it believes the pilot group wants. If the pilot group believes the RLA neuters them as most pilot groups do, they’ll be willing to settle for much less. If the pilot group believes the RLA empowers them with leverage, they’re likely to be willing to settle for less and demand that the MEC not settle for less.

 

I 2nd that! Only way to keep company from dragging their feet with no end in sight.

 

It takes several sessions to get released. This may takes months or even over a year.

 

Nonsense.

Your Moakie doctrine gets so old.

What’s next? Glen says accept his deal or we will have to wait years?