I can totally understand the Pinnacle pilots view of things. Why, when they were bargaining for six years, was a deal not to be found but now, all of the sudden mgmt has found the resources to get it done in 90 days or so?
This has less to do with awesome MEC's at CJC and XJ (though, CJC's MEC really kicks azz with a Pit bull at the helm and the XJ seems to be a very well calculated and organized group) and more to do with PNCL corp needing the deal badly for some reason that we all don't fully understand or see right now.
I learned early in this career that you never get what you deserve and management never does anything because its the right thing to do. They give you what they must and not a penny more. They have proven soulless people who worship the dollar above anything.
all that being said, I hope the pncl pilots don't bury a good thing here just to stick it to mgmt. I also hope mgmt recognizes the suffering of the pncl pilots and offers them a sizable signing bonus.
I think they were working on buying Mesaba, or some other company for a while. I have heard how they needed more 900s in order to be more cost effective, and I believe they wanted one contract. weather that's true or not, just the distraction of purchasing another company would make it difficult to negotiate a contract. I think the first piece of the puzzle had to be in place, and now that it is things are moving forward. Just my way of seeing the glass half full