I sense a ground swell of "yes" votes. People are reading this one. They want the pay rates/pay raise, don't want a more radical NPA leadership, are fed up with the negotiating circus and are looking out for number one. It'll be closer than everyone thinks.
And, I fear, that is setting up a very, very bad scenario. One in which we barely fail this thing (less than say 80%) and the new NC will have absolutely no clout at the table upon their return next year. The company will know they don't have much more to move to get the magical 50% +1; and we'll be boxed in; already having the pilot group split via the TA (and possibly the recall) vote will not help the situation at all. All of that would all but negate any pull to start over from the old contract vice the TA (2? 3?
insert version here). It needs to go down hard, or we'll all pay the price later.
If AP and MS are recalled by a plurality (as is being rumored even on this board) the new guys (when voted in) will not have any respect from management. Unless there is a skill-set out there that has yet to rise up in one of the guys rumored to be running and they can overcome a small recall vote. Everyone needs to vote on this one as well!
The only way to save ourselves from ourselves in that scenario is to elect someone not only with the brains, but the charisma, to pull us together. And, while I hope they appear, I have yet to see any signs of them as of yet.
I hope I'm wrong, but I don't get that feeling from listening to folks talk. There are many out there, despite what has been said on flightinfo, that have changed sides in this one. It is going to be very close, hence the problem!
Apathy still has a strong undercurrent in this pilot group, even with the TA/recall votes coming up. It amazes me beyond belief the low turn out for voting, at least as far as the recall. Maybe it will change, but history has not been kind to us in that respect! Everyone needs to get off their a$$, get informed, and vote!