I think timing provides a lot of context and doesn’t get talked about enough. Our timing was such that we got stuck behind the Teamsters and waiting for upward movement at the Big 3 and Purple. The Teamsters and The Big 3 landed, and Purple went around. Pattern bargaining works but it’s hard to raise the bar on compensation when you’re already leading. The extension gave us time and raised the floor while allowing us to wait for the other shoes to drop. Starting the contract forensics work last year would have meant they were analyzing soon to be obsolete data. Would that have been a good idea? By waiting, the contract study work can encompass the new contracts at the Big 3 entirely, and Purple’s rejected TA can still add value. We gained leverage AND perspective. Add in the news this week that UPS defied the “slow” stereotype and agreed to push the timeline up and it seems to me that extending was a smart long-game move by EB. Chess, not checkers.

Perspective…sure.

Leverage…I fail to see it.

Have you considered that the Executive Board thought the same? That they took a look at the totality of the situation, considered all the factors, and chose the LEAST WORST option for the pilot group?

I ask because I confronted both Boards both times the Contract Extensions were presented about the reasoning and timing. I told our President directly after learning of the second extension that it'll go over like a turd in a punchbowl, but that the pilot group trusted him and the Board. I haven't spoken with one person the last three years who is ecstatic about the delay in QOL improvements, substantial pay increases, retirement bumps, etc. But the situation was as you described, a **** sandwich. We just got the least crappy bite to position ourselves for next year, and I know for a fact the EB wasn't happy with having to choose extensions over substantial negotiations.

"...the EB will not settle for anything less than an industry-leading agreement for our pilot group."

Leverage in the sense that the market rate and status quo has been raised by the Big 3 since the extension was passed and now. The extension was the bar last summer.

Leverage is gained through new ideas.

From internet trolls pretending to be someone else?

I was going to ask. Have we established whether or not this guy is actually KS? And if he isn't, why isn't he banned?

I think we’re saying the same thing. I’m talking about the people that think the extension was the greatest thing since sliced bread and pointing to the overwhelming percentage of yes votes to support that claim.

I dont think anyone thought it was great. The praise was all in response to the anti-EB / anti extension crowd.