Being recessed by the mediator is a WIN for the company while the f/a group sits for the period with NO negotiations at all and nothing to vote on. The mediator also MOST CERTAINLY can refuse closed sections to be opened. The mediator is there not to negotiate for the union or company and that is correct but he IS there to make sure it moves along. Flores and Austin WILL be replaced. Make no mistake about it but they are not going to be replaced now. There is a lot that can and can't be said but to believe that Terry Graff or Cathy Cambell support Mike or are afraid to take on the task of removing him isn't true. There is a process that should be followed to protect the will of the membership. The union got their ducks in a row within their locals. NOW is not the time to "shoot from the hip" if you will.
Hello, sorry for the long absence but I would like to interject something if I could. I agree that there are rules to follow in recall situations. And, yes, MF & CA will most probably be replaced in the future.
I disagree that mediation is a win for the Company. Quite the opposite. This mediation, and the fact that we're negotiating under section 6, finally gives the Union some leverage. Now, there is real pressure on the Company to budge from their archaic philosophy of under pay = bigger CEO bonuses.
What we need to understand is that this divisiveness regarding the union stops now. Now is the time to be "UNIFIED". We all want the same thing, right? A good contract. Well, let the negotiators do their job and then we'll do ours. That means vote. Yes, No just vote. We have the power in that one simple task. The negotiators have the power to get a TA. WE have the power to ratify or not.
The old "Don't Cut Your Nose Off..." adage. Keep them in, support them in their job, and then exercise your vote!
On a different note:
I also don't believe in the "30 Day Free Trial" attitude that is running rampant around here. Let's see, you have a recall, rerun, etc and within 30 days decide you're angry with them and don't like them? Want to trade them in? Give me a break! You bought it, it's yours! Nobody can straighten out the messes that were in place in such a short period. Don't like how they perform...vote them out at the end of their term. It's that simple.
The problem with the naysayers and dividers as far as I see it is that, even amongst yourselves, you can't agree with what you don't like.