I just read a flyer allegedly sent from Joe Prisco labeled TRUTH. He claims to have consulted a "well respected labor lawyer" in compiling his facts for the flyer. Of course the well respected labor lawyer does not put his name to his position.
His main assertion is that the IBT should have vigorously fought the Company's filing for amalgamated talks. Of course this is the political equivalent of "heads I win tails you lose". The well respected lawyer should have told Joe that the Union has a right to object but that's not really the point. The point here is either move the Union makes, Joe will make a claim of 1) "see the union is weak and went along with the filing", or 2) "see the Union didn't know they could object to this and I brought it to their attention". In either scenario he will attempt to save face from his previous incorrect position. This becomes more obvious when you read the entire notice from David Bourne on 6-8 after the company filing where he states "This does not mean, however, that we agree with the Company's effort to push for an immediate amalgamation of the United and Continental contracts." Ignoring this part of the release was intentional.
Of course the real reason for the flyer is that, contrary to his previous assertion, it turns out the IBT was telling the truth during the road shows. The meetings described at the road shows of first the Company, and then the Union with the NMB occurred. The outcome was entirely predictable and it happened. The bottom line here is no matter which course of action the Union ultimately takes, the members lost an opportunity, we will be in talks for multiple years, and from the calls and emails I'm receiving many voted no because they felt the Union lied to them and the Company would not go to mediation. A quick look at the talks for the American mechanics bears out the fact that we will be talking for years. They have been in mediation for four years and the most recent economic pass from American was less than their previously rejected TA. Do you know when the NMB is going to release them? I haven't seen a date announced.
The only thing that surprised me about the filing at United is that they waited three whole business days until Tuesday to do it.
