Consider this, you are knee deep in negotiations. Management won't go further. You know they won't. The mediator/company wants it put to the real vote without a 'no' taint from the MEC since that would cause a likely big failure, thus not a valid check of the line pilot. Only chip left is to get it out to vote to the membership and see what they say, but in a 'neutral state' and trust them to make the decision to vote it down. Voila, the MEC can go back fresh into negotiations and say "see, I told you they would not go for it" It gives the MEC real leverage. It is up to the membership to read the nuances in there particular state. Effective technique. A real brain check for the membership.