We should've had a contract by now? By whose metric? The ones who seem to think that they can do anything and ignore the fact that we're in section 6 negotiations for 2 years and then complain about the timeline? Like it or not, the RLA has a process and just jumping out of the gate with a strike vote on a whim isn't how it works. We can't just take that action whenever we feel like it anymore than we can seek being released for self-help. There's a process. First we engage in traditional section 6 negotiations and like or not, while that is happening, the company is observing our collective behavior to gauge our resolve. When was the first time we, as a pilot group, showed significant unity that might get the company's attention? I'll give you a hint - the strike vote. Do you think it's a coincidence that we got the company to move on the final items being negotiated in the same few weeks we produced an overwhelmingly strong turn-out with the strike authorization vote?

I wonder what would have happened if we had shown similar resolve and unity prior to May 2023? Those are individual choices we all make, not directives on the part of the MEC. Waiting until the RLA process has practically been exhausted isn't something we can lay at the feet of our ALPA leaders and reps. They do what they are allowed to do by the RLA. It wasn't necessary for us to take this process to the point of a strike vote. We all know the choices we could have made to bring this to a conclusion much sooner. We didn't and here we are. So, let's not lay where we currently find ourselves on our ALPA reps, leadership or NC - it's on us.

All true, but now the ball is squarely in the MECs hands.

IAW the RLA, can the MEC vote “No” now?

What leverage does the MEC possess now, that they have the strike vote results in their back pocket ?

In Unity (for Everyone),
DLax

Wow. You actually think whatever leverage the pilot force was able to produce is supposed to be used AFTER we have a TA and the MEC is considering whether to send it out for ratification?
UFB.

By ALPA's metric. Remind me when their goal was to reach a TA? Yeah, it wasn't June of '23. I didn't say they should've called for a strike vote right off the bat. I said they should've called for it a lot sooner than they did.

Yeah. That goal assumed a pilot force backing them with maximum effort and an adversary across the table willing to honor the tenants of the focused negotiation agreed on at the outset. Neither of those variables proved valid. Thus, the requirement to request medication (fall 2022) and the continued mediated negotiations under the NMB until the point that our NC felt seeking a strike authorization vote was the only option. If only they had you to guide their choices, everything would be different, right?

You were definitely a yes voter in '15 and I'm sure you'll come up with every reason under the sun why we deserve less than our peers in this contract too.

Are you seriously suggesting that the NC's goals were only achievable if 1) the pilot force silently coordinated an illegal job action to support the negotiations and 2) the company cooperated fully? Yeah, I'd say neither of those proved valid. Pretty bad plan.

First - No voter in 2015. I'm offering no excuses to accept anything less than what we deserve. But, I'm willing to consider the whole offer and not a single item metric.
No, I'm not suggesting either 1) or 2) above. I'm simply stating that there's only so much our NC and union leadership can do within the constraints of the RLA. When the company looks past them to view a milquetoast pilot group that are making selfish choices, not showing up to LEC meetings and PUB events, not wearing lanyards, offering to help the company short notice and bad mouthing the efforts of their union on every social media platform available, the company is emboldened, making ALPA's job significantly more difficult. For those of us who helped bring on those circumstances to now complain about the results is pretty disingenuous.

I hate to assume anyone’s answer, but are you implying the value of our strike vote is now zero?

Are you OK, with the MEC voting “No” if it doesn’t meet the expectations of the pilots they represent?

I hope EVERY path possible within the RLA is still possible, and that EVERY form of legal leverage is still possible - only then, can we truly apply full legal leverage.

In Unity (for Everyone),

DLax

Every path will still possible under the RLA. That doesn’t mean it will be on a timeline convenient or preferred by us.

it will be back to the negotiation table and it takes however long it takes.