Q: Why is the Negotiating Committee working on the “boring but important” stuff first?
In negotiations, we often reach tentative agreement more easily on smaller sections wherein both parties are closer to agreement. Sections where AFA and management are in conflict frequently take longer to discuss and reach tentative agreement; thus both parties open discussion on these sections later in the overall process. Sections with greater cost implications or greater overlap (e.g., Hours of Service, Reserve, Compensation) are often the last to be discussed for this reason.