Thanks for the information. I will keep trying. I will try and make it to a job fair, hopefully that will help.

Check your PMs.

If you want a new contract show your support in FLL on the 26th while the *****s keep taking the OT trips to Hawaii

Can someone explain to the best of their ability exactly what is going on with the final stages of this negotiations? From what I am understanding July 26-28th is the last attempt to reach a TA? Let’s assume the result will be the same; at that time will the NMB give us the cool off period or has that already begun? From what I understand we have to do 30 days cool off before self-help? I’d hate to start this next rotation and be stuck in VIDP for a month! Lol

Pretty much, under the simplest explanation, it breaks down like this, for all practical purposes (this is a bit overly-simplified, but generally accurate):

If after this attempt no decision is made, then we still are in a situation in which the union has requested the proffer. The mediator has to decide whether to accept this or not, and there is no guarantee that they will.

If the mediator does not accept it, we continue under status quo and nothing changes. If the mediator does accept it, then the company has a certain amount of time to decide whether they will agree to binding arbitration. The same is true for the union.

It is almost certain that binding arbitration would not be agreed to, because neither side has a whole lot of say in the outcome, and allowing a binding decision to be made by a third party that has no obligation to take any position from either side as part of their decision is generally avoided in such whole contract situations. This generally is only reserved for minor decisions on specific issues.

If the binding arbitration is agreed to, an arbitrator will magically pull a decision out of his magical hat, and we will all be bound to it... after some period of both sides making a case to him, and perhaps some negotiation.

If the binding arbitration is not agreed to (which is the most likely case), there may be another round or two of "intense" attempt at finding a negotiated resolution, but it would likely lead to a threat of putting both sides into a cooling down period to prepare for self help. The hope is that both sides will come out of the cooling down period with clearer heads, and agree to something that avoids a strike occurring.

If both sides still cannot agree to terms, then they are released to self-help... most likely (unless the President or a court denies the action due to national or security interests, which is possible since we do fly military flights, and do have some reasonable economic impact).

Even if it comes to both sides being released to self-help, the shortest route to self-help is no less than a couple months out or more, so you have no reason to worry about being stranded in Delhi for a month in your upcoming rotation. It will not happen that fast. Hell, even if a TA is agreed to next week, voting would likely not occur on it until the end of August or early September either.

first of all.. 26-28th is NOT necessarily the end of negotiations.

the Union has submitted a proffer of binding arbitration to the NBM... the MEDIATOR is allowed to submit his thoughts to the NMB.. the MEDIATOR does not make these decisions.. the three person NMB panel will decide to accept or deny the proffer.

IF the proffer is accepted one.. or both parties will reject binding arbitration thus starting the 30 day cooling off period. During this time the NMB very likely will require SUPER mediation which is basically all day every day negotiations during this period until they feel there is not further use in negotiations. At the end of the 30 day period... both parties are free to use Self Help measures, i.e. the union can strike.. or choose other work actions. The company can also arbitrarily change pay rates and work rules.....

IF the proffer is rejected, likely they would table negotiations for a short period of time.. or maybe not. And then continue on the same path we have been on... months 3 day negotiation sessions until some point in the future.

IF you happen to be on a rotation at the point a legal strike was called, the union has measures to return all crew members to their home.

If you do find yourself on strike out in the boonies, go find a United flight and odds are they will figure out a way to get you on. Unless you are a previous scab or the ual Capt is a scab. Then all bets are off

Good luck!

Pilots won't get to even vote on a TA if 1224 doesnt approve.

Technically this is true, though the NMB is very likely to follow the recommendation of the Mediator... Unless an argument can be made that it is a national security or national interests issue.

Not true, OMB will weight very heavily in the decision to release or not. Well that and reading tea leaves, rolling bones and rubbing a lucky rabbits foot. The reason will come down to politics.