I guess no one realizes this isnt section 6 negotiations anymore and the NMB doesnt carry any weight in the chapter 11 process.
(First off the following are my thoughts alone, the Binding Arbitartion idea was not discussed and debated by us on the committee, it was a joint action decided on by the leaders of the three unions, I found out about it the same way everyone else did. )
Not according to the NMB. They have claimed all along that they do and they have remained involved.
The NWA-AFA case didnt say the workers had to accept the deal period, it said they had to follow the proceedures per the RLA before they could strike.
Where does it say that the process's cant be conducted simultaneously?
The AFA was not in Sect 6 negotiations when NWA filed. Had they pursued it they would have been starting at day 1.
By continueing the process with the NMB the Unions could have their releases locked and loaded should the Judge abrogate the deals. This would put us as close to having the same freedom and leverage that Unions under the NLRA have. By working together the three unions can put max pressure on the company to come off their unreasonable demands.
While I dont like binding arbitration I think this was a good call. In the BK process the Judge is just a rubber stamp for the company, nothing requires him to look at market conditions, thats not the case in Arbitration where market conditions usually play a more significant role than what the company cliams they can pay (because its expected that they will cry poverty). We are at the bottom, has anyone ever come out of binding arbitration with the worst deal in the industry?
