There will not be a strike.
The issue is we have been parked by the mediator because he is pissed at the union. Hoser and John will tell me Im nuts, but you do the math. 4 years of negotiating and after last week we are indefinately recessed again. The mediator has every right to release us if he feels it is due. The union is simply too far from realistic to release us. Unless the company capitulates even further to a large degree (unlikely) we will be parked for many months.
Dont get me wrong - the latest proposal from the company should have been offered in back in january, not now. But the union moves 25 cents from 13 percent raises, refuses to budge from no furlough and retirement and wont consider pbs.
We can spin it all we want and make this a great victory for union rights. Our mec will spin this in the lounge as the company offer was nothing not to be taken seriously. They will say the mediator is angry at the company. There will be no strike in the next 6 months, if that. The mediator wont go down that path if he thinks the union is being unrealistic.
In one week we will hit 4 years - there will be picketing, one or two stations will offer coverage and things will go back to normal.
The mec needs to wake up.