a quote from planebusiness.com says there's a "strong possibility" the two sides will be back at the table after disasterous operational issues since the arbitrator's decision. Hope this is true......

Here is the deal reached:


This is MEC Chairman Mark Bryant on Friday, May 27.

I am pleased to announce that MEC representatives and Alaska management
have reached tentative agreement in principle on the terms of a new
collective bargaining agreement for Alaska pilots. This tentative
agreement is subject to final language review, approval by the MEC, and
ratification by the membership.

The tentative agreement provides for a 20% across-the-board reduction in
the hourly rates of pay that were in effect on April 30, 2005, in lieu
of the more substantial pay cuts contained in the recent Kasher
arbitration award. The agreement also preserves our current retirement
plans and adopts virtually all of the TAs reached during the Section 6
negotiations that ended on December 15, 2004, including the TA on Alaska
Air Group scope.

The agreement also contains significant productivity enhancements and a
duration of 5 years sought by management.

The MEC will review the final language of the tentative agreement at a
special meeting on Wednesday, June 1. If approved by the MEC, the full
tentative agreement will be provided to the membership and road shows
will be conducted in LAX, ANC and SEA, followed by the membership
ratification process.

You may look forward to additional information concerning the details of
the TA and its review by the MEC in the near future. ALPA appreciates
the Company's willingness to work with us to craft an agreement that
works better for both parties than the Kasher award. We are hopeful
that the resolution of many of the issues of greatest importance to
Alaska pilots contained in this tentative agreement will foster a
positive work environment that is conducive to providing our passengers
the safe, reliable and superior service for which Alaska is known

Well that is an interesting turn of events. I wonder if we can wait until the judge rules on our lawsuit to vacate the arbitrators decision. I like what Im hearing but need some sort of pay increase during the life of the contract to get excited about it.

You might be in a better position by voting No, begin to negotiate the new contract in two years, and by three years have the concession restored. A possibility anyway. Five years is a long time- and is actually seven when given how long talks drag out nowadays.

I wonder if Ayer and his boys felt a messy court battle was the last thing they wanted.

It looks like they still will get more than they asked for at the 11th hour...