ALPA's version:
Gary Kelly's version (OK it came from some other guy, but it is Southwest management):
In addition, Dan Katz, SWAPA counsel Jeff Freund, mediator Dana Eischen, and Southwest Airlines Senior Labor Counsel Joe Harris conferred multiple times via teleconference during the week to discuss various mediation and arbitration schedules. During the exchanges, SWAPA pushed for a delay in the arbitration proceedings, which we opposed. Southwest management offered to extend by up to three months their previously stated desire to conclude the arbitration process by December 31. In the end, the arbitration board accepted our position that the following twelve hearing dates should remain in place:
This week, counsel for the Company, SWAPA and AirTran/ALPA participated in several conference calls with the Mediator to discuss the mediation schedule and our options moving forward. During the discussions, the Company offered to delay the mediation and arbitration process to give the parties more time for thoughtful discussions in hopes that the parties could find a mutually beneficial solution. The Mediator and counsel for SWAPA indicated interest in the suggestion, but counsel for AirTran/ALPA said his client would not agree.
So let me get this straight. The mediator (who is the Head Arbitrator!) wanted more time for negotiations and AirTran/ALPA said "no"? WTF do we think we are going to achieve by being obstinate and then lying about it?
Arbitration hasn't even started and we look like uncooperative thugs. Thanks to the Ortscheid spin machine we also look like lying dirtbags. This is NOT a good development. If the arbitrators get pissed at us we'll get a worse award than the SIA. If Gary Kelly gets pissed (more pissed?) we might not get integrated at all.
Who can save us from ourselves?
No comments:
Post a Comment