I’m not thrilled either. Just a suggestion through your post.

 

Guys, the company has all the leverage. As previously stated, we won't get a contract till something changes that the company wants. Right now that's scope, right now that's not going to change, so right now it could be years more.

Games? Yes. That 's how this system is rigged. The only way to change that is to change the railway labor act, and with the current administration, we really don't want to open that box because I suspect we would get something horrifically worse.

I'm not one to preach patience, but in this we have no choice. Suck it up. Voting on a deal early next year? Not bloody likely. The better question is, early in which year?

Know specific details? That would be negotiating in public. Not recommended. When the company does that, they are trying to divide us. Our best weapon is UNITY. What tends to happen is that if we go public, then everyone wants their own individual deal--no unity and no bargaining power there. Know now that this process will take years. so....wait for it.....be patient.

"If we don't hang together, we will surely all hang separately."

 

Showing weakness in public is almost as bad as negotiating in public. In fact, it’s very closely related.

 

I would like to have a new agreement also! But I'm not willing to pay the price that would cost. I'm not willing to give up scope to just get a new agreement. Scope is the cost!!! We could probably have a new agreement if we just caved on scope. That seems to be what the Company wants and is not willing to give up the ghost on that one. That is why I say "be patient".

Both parties are restricted from talking specifically about negotiations while negotiating. That is and has been the protocol as long as I've been in the Industry. Failure of that could be construed as negotiating in bad faith.

 

Don’t feed into the doom and gloom crowd ^^^^^^, be patient a contract will come, and don’t feed into the rumor mill or crap on this forum. When a contract comes out let your union reps explain the new contract and then make your decision. Scope might change, sick bank might change, reserve rules etc etc, have an open mind and make a logical decision.

 

I get my info from 20+ years in the airlines. Oh and common sense. ALPA has been wonderful. But right now the sticking point is scope. If you’re willing to give up some scope then you’ll have a AIP tomorrow. With the economy doing great and united making billions everyone is happy. As I said, until something changes in favor of the pilots or Oscar is just feeling generous we will be working under this contract for quite some time.

 

Normally I’d agree but there is an incentive for leadership to ink a deal and provide stability in cost forecasts so it’s in their interest to get something done soon too.

 

If they don’t ink a deal then the costs remain the same indefinitely. Pilots are happy so everything is running like a well oiled machine. So until something changes everything stays the same.

 

The soft sales job has already started.

 

Do tell? I have not seen it.