Summer most certainly is arbitrary, by definition. The only thing not arbitrary in a process like this would be the start of a time limited cooling off period or a time limited PEB, etc.

I believe that our guys believed that not just a TA, but an acceptable and ratifiable TA were in range by the middle/end of the summer. That's why I think they bent and gave on the AIP's right away. And then the company rapped yo mama jokes, dropped the mic and walked off.

Of course we could have had a TA, but it would have been with all the AIP's and the 16.5/-4/3/3/-? amount so basically 12/3/3 with a surprise cut later when they dramatically jack up (and likely redefine) management compensation. So even less than 12/3/3. With the AIPs.

Nope. Its clear the company negotiators aren't serious about giving us a winning contract. They are in search of the path to the lowest 50%+1 they can get, and even then with the industry blowing us by they're content to sit on our current book unless they get deep concessions. Their pay proposal with the AIP's would in no way have gotten 50%+1 though. So where would that have put us, and how would we be better off?

 

Hi Gloopy,

The summer wasn't my choice, but it's the logical choice. I'll give Malone that much.

The main issues are retro and NMB.

The NMB has previously let ALPA know that within a few weeks of the presidential election, and certainly for weeks thereafter, they hibernate, then their makeup switches according to the winning side. One source says they will probably want to wrap things up by late September.

I don't think there is any reasonable expectation retro is included with a 2017 contract. Take one week for MEC review + 60-day MEMRAT, and that makes late October an important day.

To the extent picketing makes a difference, the summer was the time to picket for the greatest effect. I think Malone mentioned Labor Day a lot, did he not?

 

Sure he did, and that's great.

I think you're way overemphasising the elections though. Regardless of who wins, we are in infancy with this process. Dem or Rep, the company can use the broken and biased process to hide uphill behind a stone wall for 3-5 years regardless. Even if Crazy Bernie won (the leftist of the left and supposedly most populist pro labor mouthpiece of the bunch) even his admin wouldn't allow a cooling off period before 3-5 years had passed. If we were several years into it, this election might matter. For us, it will not unless the company has a change of heart and decides to salvage the future culture of the company from the jaws of their labor busting cigar smoking brandy swilling country club authors of one disastrous playbook after another in the industry.

Many thought Richard was different. No one thinks Sleepy Ed is different. His loyalty is to his buddies on Mahogany Row he goes island shopping with, and the trust lawyers he hires to manage his family's permanent levels of generational wealth. Its not with us, or the company, or even the shareholders. He's more Mullin-esque than any of our guys are Moak-ites.

 

Maybe I'm mistaken (and I usually am), but I don't recall UAL moving the ball down field a whole lot when given the chance.