What's up on the Line (Contract Negotiation Status): January 11, 2012
Contract Negotiation Status
Rumors abound about the NMB parking our contract talks. This "What's Up On The Line" gets the straight story regarding the status of contract negotiations.
January 11, 2012
The next mediated negotiation session is scheduled for the week of January 23, 2012. There are currently no meetings scheduled beyond January, however at the conclusion of the January meeting, the Mediator, in conjunction with the NMB, will determine if and when any future sessions are warranted. While there may be some speculation that the NMB will recess negotiations, commonly referred to as being ‘parked’, no decision has been made. Since a recess only benefits the Company by extending the time that they keep your pay and benefits at the bottom of the industry, the NAC is doing everything possible to prevent this from occurring. However, at this point, further NMB mediated sessions for subsequent months appear to be unlikely.
Remember, the timeline is controlled by the mediator and the NMB. They decide if there is an impasse and whether or not an impasse warrants a release. Unfortunately, we have very little control if or when a release occurs. Additionally, the NMB reports directly to President Obama. Given that, we are approaching an election year; the question is whether or not the NMB is likely to release anyone that may have negative political implications.
Many pilots have also asked when we will be released to a cooling off period and they question why we haven’t already asked to be released. Well, we have asked. Unfortunately, the NMB insists that in order to be released the number of open issues must be reduced to a core few. Well, we’ve tried to do that. Understand however, the Company has refused to move one inch off of the Kirby proposal. So, if we follow the NMB’s direction, understanding that the Company refuses to move on anything, then the only way we can possibly get to a release is to capitulate on most of the other issues which include: Bottom of the industry pay, bottom of the industry DC contribution, 99/108 hour pay cap, bottom of the industry work rules, no retro/parity pay, loss of medical benefits while on LTD, eliminate most scope protections, vacation that tops out at year 15 vs. an industry standard of 30, excessive LTD offsets, bottom of the industry sick. Ask yourself, are you willing to give up on many of these provisions? If so, which ones?
The NAC follows the direction of the BPR and they have been abundantly clear – no concessions and industry standard. Until we receive direction to the contrary, this is the direction we are mandated to follow.
Finally, it has become obvious to anyone associated with this negotiation that it doesn’t matter who is sitting across the table from the Company; they have no interest in reaching a deal. If anyone tells you otherwise they either have another agenda or they’re not being truthful. It’s in the Company’s best interest, to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, to delay this process as long as possible. It’s that simple. Unfortunately, it now appears that the NMB is becoming sympathetic to this principle.
