Almost
I know the logic behind the current procedures regarding negotiations.
At the moment the GC does not put out all the info by way of a completed proposal so all discussion up to the final draft is done with incomlete information. Once the complete info is available we are then required to vote.
I am saying this is too late. There needs to be a step in between that allows review of the proposals in entirety and then back to the negotiatin table.
The reason this is not done currently is that the GC feels that they are getting the best from the company and that is all they can do. It is apparent from this proposal (DEFO) that it can be better if sent back for clarification, and possible inclusion of areas not thought of etc. In the case of the DEFO programme there may be areas in the transition period, and pay scales, that may not have been considerd during the negotiations. I am not saying the negotiators are slack, rather that they cannot percieve how policies and proposals will affect every member. If they did cover all the bases, great then the intermediate consultation time is only a double check. Or, it is posssible valuable insight might be gained prior to the pressure a vote brings. It defines the process. At the moment it is a big question mark as to whether there is any chance for renegotiating/tweaking or not. An agreement to have a consultation period after the completed policy/proposal is put to the members guarantees that there will be review. Saves the companies "Face" as they do not have to decide whether to negotiate or not. Any changes do not have to be feared by the company because they might fall under the heading re-organisation and clarification, for example, and thereby save time preventing another drawn out negotiation and subsequent vote. Then, when the company says that is it, we won't change XYZ, now vote, that vote will be done based on a more finite set of possibilities. As it is now we are just guessing.
In the flying game we rely on checks and balances on redundancy, why not in our negotiation process as well. Hey it is only our careers we are talkiing about.
Cheers
Five