AANOTOK,
I posted long ago after some Association "progress" report of outstanding the "minor issues" did not strike me as being small details, and questioned what has been discussed for the past couple of years. Not to mention, having meetings being scheduled so infrequently as to suggest not much interest or common ground to find a resolution by one or both sides. I think it was Tim who posted several months ago of Section 6 being a real possibility which was very much contrary to being so "close" to a rumored T.A. I think in many ways we have been mislead, and while it is easy to it being say due to internet message board(s) and our own expectations, I cannot ignore much of it being from the Association's official pronouncements. I could speculate as to motive understanding as no one wants to appear to be ineffective or incompetent, especially as it may call into question their raison d'etre, but I am harboring doubts as to the Association's ability to negotiate a deal.
I believe we are on the precipice of a negotiation crisis, if not already over the edge sliding into Section 6. I concur with your prediction of Management using this meeting as a de facto "last-best-final-offer" with some enhancements to the initial offer, but I am concerned the Association will not provide a reasonable comprehensive counter-proposal providing material for both discussion and direction. Just saying, "No" and taking to social media to attack the Company proposals will not open the already all-too-infrequent dialogue. My thinking will be the Company will warn of the potential consequences of Section 6, and push for a vote knowing that while both FSCs and MXs exit together with their respective T.A.'s, each work group will vote separately. Should one group pass a T.A., then that's one less group to focus upon otherwise we fall into the void of Section 6.
