Its not a blame game, its about survival. We know where Tulsa stands as a Unit, we know where the line stands as a Unit. No emotion, no anger, just time to part ways.
Yes 26% of Tulsa voted NO, and I would support language that would ensure that all those guys would have the opportunity to come to the line but the overwhelming majority voted to accept the deal. I respect all those in Tulsa who fight for what is right but the numbers aren't even close, we all did all we could to bring them into the fold and stand up for the profession like the pilots have chosen to do, and 26% did, but 74% didn't and that 74% proved to be insurmountable, Tulsa is a lost cause. Without Tulsa we could easily overcome the lilly livered on the line. We simply cant afford to try and sway the majority at Tulsa anymore, we have to try and seperate ourselves from the effect of the roll call vote and a membership that would reject any deal that would give the line more than Tulsa but accept any deal as long as the line gets screwed too. I dont want to fight with Tulsa, whether its Sam or Hewitt or Carlisle, I want nothing to do with them, let them go their way with a deal they feel is good for them and let us go our way and let each group stand on their own merits.
From where we are sitting Tulsa as a unit is willing to accept any concession as long as they can force the line guys to accept it as well. And as a unit Tulsa pretty much controls the negotiations process (through Roll Call) and the ratification process, their control has been the biggest factor in putting us where we are today.
So we had a FSC out of Tulsa, who as a FSC will stay near the top of the industry compared to his peers push through a deal for Aircraft mechanics that would put Line mechanics at AA at least 20% below industry average and 75% of the mechanicsI in Tulsa supported it. . As a group, why would the guys on the line wish to remain affiliated when doing so causes us such harm? Yes we had guys that didnt vote, yes we had guys that voted Yes, but the overwhelming majority of us on the line voted No.
What do you propose the line guys should try and do? Accept this for another six years and hope that Tulsa will change by 2018?