Given the time that you guys have been in negotiations, the NC along with all the lawyers you can muster, should be emphatically appealing to the NMB for help. They should be asking for hyper mediation and up to and including a release. I don't know that any other U.S. airline has gone this long into negotiations. With Skywest in the picture the stakes just went up.
The type of management and their styles should be highlighted to help your case. The MEC needs to get with it before the train leaves the station. Once the first 70 seat airplane arrives, it's all downhill from there. I believe that by then you will be too late. At that point management may find a loophole to replace 717s with RJs. Or at the very least, a good portion of them.
Just remember, the same advice was given to the Midwest guys. To their demise, their MEC stood by and watched it all happen. Hoeksema came out smelling like roses. He'll never have to work another day in his life, what does he care. I think more could have been done. If your pilots aren't involved and on the MEC's butt, it's time to start. Your career may depend on it.
