Sink r8

Let’s rewind the last year, up to this week:
-Company overreached, and was caught bluffing on TA1.
-Waiting for an improved market yielding better contracts now looks a lot smarter than taking the bait last year, as the market is in fact better (FedEx/United/Allegiant/UPS).
-The “Noble -8” didn’t re-engage promptly on a 65% vote, but they were outstanding at capturing an uncontested majority on the MEC, and getting the Admin, negotiators, and policies that they were clamoring for.
-The timeline for a deal was shifted to this summer.
-Turns out Richard didn’t need a contract after all, but then again, Ed seems to want one.
-Negotiations continued, at a pace that should yield a deal this summer. So far, so good.
-The MEC has had to walk back the strict no-concession stance, by repackaging them as “necessary changes”. “It’s a negotiation”, after all. No surprise there. All MEC’s have to walk back a promise or two; as long as they didn’t go overboard with promises, it all works out when the pilots judge the work.
-AIP’s were released earlier than usual in the process, a move described by reps as “more transparent”. In my opinion, a good idea, but it’s no TA. It’s a little bit like getting half a menu, and being asked to judge a meal.

This is where we stood at the beginning of the week. The beginning of the week was the time for the MEC to reveal what they (slowly) cooked up, over this last year, so we can have our taste, so we can tell them whether we'll have another bite, or throw the thing in the trash.

Instead, this week it’s becoming increasingly obvious that there are Chefs trying to leave the kitchen, trying to tell us the soup they made tastes bitter because their hand-picked sous-chefs are incompetent. That won’t work. These guys have all been paid to be involved in the entire process. They own the AIP’s. How could they not? If you wear the tall paper hat you’re either a Chef, or you’re a dunce. If you didn’t try to get a taste, you’re a fool. If you try to pretend you didn’t catch a whiff, you’re a liar.

So there seems to be a bit of panic in the kitchen, but meanwhile the patrons are being seated. Many expect a feast; some simply asked for three of the courses to be removed from last year’s menu, and the whole thing to be sweetened a bit. The new management promised something “delectable” instead. According to the reps I have spoken with, some pilots are calling and asking to be served the company opener, raw. A similarly small number is trying to burn the place. And most everyone falls in the middle. What most everyone has yet to see is the full menu, much less get a taste. There is a lot of noise coming from the kitchen, but it’s all pretty much stalling.

Stalling just won’t work. The ingredients are as fresh as they’re ever going to get. The “once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity” is as ripe as ripe can get. There is nothing tasty left to deliver. No fresh major OAL contracts, no intoxicatingly cheap oil you need to cook with. It’s all there for our Iron Chefs stars to steam up, sauté, fry, whatever they like.

It’s time to let us see what they cooked up. Throwing the creation in the trash isn’t going to make the problem go away. Running out the back door isn’t going to work. The pilots need to know all the courses: AIP’s, Section 1, Section 3 and all, then we’ll let the MEC know whether we want a taste. Good on Them to have given us a sneak peek at the AIPpetIzers, but half a menu is no meal.

So, what's to eat?

Spoiler alert: it's Turd Tartare.

JamesBond

If this is true, we need to draft union reps. No alpa. Certainly no dpa. Select names out of a hat, pay them biggest pay to serve 2 years and go back to the line. Take the politics out of it. This presents a sickening scenario.

Have fun

vyperdriver

Is this blind loyalty to ALPA like battered wife syndrome? Just because its been around a while doesnt mean its any good. I mean I'm sure some folks like "foie gras,c but I'm just into good old "meat and potatoes" and what I want to know is "where's the beef!" Since we are on this food analogy.

Karnak

Clever analogy, but it's lacking a few key pieces:

- The patrons have dietary preferences that vary. Some are older and don't like "spicy" dishes. Some prefer hot sauce, even if it results in a sore rear end for a while. Some like tapas or small plates, served at regular intervals. Some want a heaping banquet. Hey! Doesn't everybody want a heaping banquet? ("If you don't, you're a wimp!")

- The chefs are being overseen by the FDA. The FDA controls when they cook, and the temperature of the stove/oven.

- A few of the chefs are more interested in starting their own kitchen than making this one successful.

- The restaurant is owned by people who have other concerns that are probably bigger than the meal being prepared in the kitchen. Access to the restaurant, moves by competitors, the cost of bacon, etc. Recently, the electrical system had a nasty short that probably took their focus off the chef's progress.

- Making a good meal isn't as easy as some would make it seem.

nohat

Alpa is done, send your cards in, the only way to stop the insanity is to cut the head off the blood sucking, backstabbing, sellout of an association!

Don't be scared of change, because after the ALPA lost decade, we can't do any worse!

Erdude32

Just heard the reps 12 to 6 said no to 18,5,5. They Won't even let us vote on it?!?! Double you Tee Eff?!?! Time for more recalls starting with C44 & C66.

Hawaii50

Is there a list of MEC guys with a DOA card in? Maybe the blame should start with them if they can't get us an agreement.

Papasmurf

Was it a clean 18,5,5 or were there adjustments for profit sharing ( executive compensation carve out, no 401k ) That would make it more like 9/5/5

JamesBond

That's the thing. There will be no change. Same people, different day. But dues will be lower. PPA all over again.

Oh but with Caplingers leadership

notEnuf

Good, that's what I elected them to do. AIPs were a NO without bigger (much bigger) numbers. I probably would have been a no because of the AIPs anyway. That's TA1 territory 8/6/3/3 or 14/3/3 with a big hit to PS and repackaged concessions. I'll wait.

Spoiler alert; They just saved ALPA from implosion, for now.