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- - Mediation (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/jetblue/104233-mediation.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingair35 (Post 2398049)

I read that the average time in mediation is 29 months, and that is outside of the direct negotiations that have already taken place.

Seems like this whole process has been extremely well played on the company's part. I mean, over two years of negotiations have netted pretty much cost neutral TA's. It comes as no surprise that once the big money discussions start, things melt down quickly and now we are in mediation that is non-binding.

In my opinion, we were in a labor dispute the day we filed for section 6 negotiations. I find it interesting that our union is still not considering us in a full blown labor dispute and is waiting till the "end of the year" to consider it as such.

Regardless, this process is going to take a very very long time to settle. Anyone under the impression that JetBlue management is "different", and will go to any cost to protect its "brand" are seriously mistaken.

Suit up, show up, fly SOP.

Average mediation is 29 months based on what? Airlines only or does that include all union negotiations?

At the rally, the negotiators were clear that this was why we DIDN'T want to go straight to mediation like some of us here have been calling for. With only a few items left for the NMB to help us resolve, they'll hopefully be motivated to help us move the process as quickly as possible. The NMB wants to take care of it and get it off their docket as quickly as possible, assuming they're legitimate issues. If we went to the NMB with issues like administrative sections remaining they wouldn't take us seriously and would not devote as many resources to us to resolve our contract.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingair35 (Post 2398049)

I read that the average time in mediation is 29 months, and that is outside of the direct negotiations that have already taken place.

Seems like this whole process has been extremely well played on the company's part. I mean, over two years of negotiations have netted pretty much cost neutral TA's. It comes as no surprise that once the big money discussions start, things melt down quickly and now we are in mediation that is non-binding.

In my opinion, we were in a labor dispute the day we filed for section 6 negotiations. I find it interesting that our union is still not considering us in a full blown labor dispute and is waiting till the "end of the year" to consider it as such.

Regardless, this process is going to take a very very long time to settle. Anyone under the impression that JetBlue management is "different", and will go to any cost to protect its "brand" are seriously mistaken.

Suit up, show up, fly SOP.

So how do you know the TA'd sections are cost neutral?

Quote:

Originally Posted by The701Express (Post 2398258)

So how do you know the TA'd sections are cost neutral?

King has no clue..

Hawaiian took about 4 months from mediation, to cool down, and then TA.

It was more like a year and four months at HA.

We filed right after the amendable date. Had only the big items on the table, on our side. It is still slow as molasses.

The company admitted in a letter to the NMB it should take 36 months simply because it had the last time. Needless to say that helped us a bit more than them.

Best of luck.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ridinhigh (Post 2398382)

There are guys here who still think this will be done in 2017- while I admire their optimism, I question their realism.
I, and many others that have been through this, realize we're in for a late 2018 TA at best.
Serious question; Do any of you actually believe that this mediation will be wrapped up in less than a year?
Please explain your logic. Btw, The NMB is never "in a hurry "- that's blind optimism 😵

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bozo the pilot (Post 2398387)

Really depends on how attrition shapes out the next 12 months. United's forecast is 1200 new-hires in 2018, I'm sure the other Legacies are planning the same. If JetBlue's attrition is higher than planned right before Summer 2018, I think you could a TA finalized.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuball5 (Post 2398396)

Yea I've always thought staffing was the only way to move the idiotic B6 machine. Theyll have to hurt before they learn- typical.

Attrition is not happening at a rate that will cause management to get CBA hammered out quick. Bozo says he's leaving but he has to get a call, interview, class date and ultimately resign. That's probably a 6 month process on its own. So, I don't think you're going to see the floodgates of attrition ever open. If we don't have a CBA in July, 2018, well now its probably a different perspective for guys leaving. Back up 6 months from July and you've got January, 2018, and when those "nay-sayers" will say its time to put in apps and call-in favors.

Most are sticking around right now because they've got a major stake in B6 being a career airline. Like Bozo said, everyday that goes bye is another day towards 65 and what "you've got left for a career". A decent CBA (IE The Hawaiian examples of successful negotiation and mediation) makes starting over somewhere else worth buckling in for the ride.

-Bubs

I think we are fortunate with the mediator that we got assigned....the fact he's got an airline background is significant, but even more so is that his reputation is that he's one of the, if not the best mediator they have....apparently Alaska MEC told our MEC that they were jealous that we got him....

I think if nothing else, he won't let this drag out which will lead to 1 of 2 outcomes.....1....we somehow get a TA quicker because of his ability to facilitate an agreement.....or 2.....he see that we will not be able to come to any consensus and we get release early for self help......

Either way, I think this mediator getting assigned to us probably gets us to a CBA 6-9 months earlier than other possible mediators we could have been assigned..