Interesting enough what has been overlooked in this thread is the contempt of Atlas Air management towards it's pilot group.
Having recently entered contract negotiations with ALPA, Atlas Air management has sprung upon the pilot group a depolrable ultimatum by establishing an International base in Stansted, England with a closing bid date if May 10th. If sufficient numbers of the pilot group do not bid this assignment Atlas Air crew leasing reserves the right to hire outside. This tactic can only be described as union busting. Atlas pilots do not want this base and we hope that our brothers overseas will not bid for these slots which will only undermine our efforts to secure a respectable wage from a company that has no regard for it's employees.