My question is this. With the SLI framework agreement stating that SLI negotiations will start no later than 7/8/8 (Next Tues) and go for on month (8/8/8) and at that time if there is no agreement we have until the 15th of Aug 8/15/8 to make a list of items we disagree on. If we cannot resolve them we go to arbitration. All that will be done no later than 11/15/8.
With this time line are we not going to start the SLI issue before we vote on the JPWA? I thought that we were told that would not happen.
I cannot seem to get a straight answer about this.
There are also many Memorandums and LOA's that have been posted today that have me thinking.
The one about early outs for retirees makes me wonder why the union would want them to leave unless they know we are going to lay off. Read em, there is a lot there.
Even with and SLI and a JPWA it is going to be very difficult to park planes. We will have to have two certificates until 12-15 months DCC. If they park the 9's or 88 and it would effectively furlough someone off the other list, what will we do. We cannot even try to bring the other pilots over to the DAL or NWA operating certificate. Lots of very big issues with that. Because of this, I think that is why they gave us a two year no furlough clause. Fact is that they will not be able to do so after these agreements take effect and we have a single certificate. If they tried they would either have to furlough a ton, or get sued for doing it wrong. That leaves us with two years of wondering or them doing it now. Lets hope in two years when they can have their will, the economy will be doing a lot better and the 9's and 88's are replaced with something on the mainline side of the fence.
As a side note. I do not think that voting yes or no will change the outcome of the SLI. The fact is that they are doing it this way so that we are bound by the PWA and therefore cannot vote ALPA off property. Even if we agreed that the PWA would not come to a vote until after the SLI, I think the SLI would probably end in the same result.
It stinks but I think the NWA guys are correct. The only reason to really vote this down is to spite them. We know we get our money either way.