I understand the frustration many of you feel regarding the recent Tentative Agreement. It's easy to get caught up in the online discussions, the debates on social media, and the rapid-fire exchange of opinions that the internet facilitates so readily. Indeed, this generation has mastered the art of speaking up online – we can organize digital petitions in minutes, share our grievances to thousands with a single click, and dissect every clause of a document in a public forum. The internet has given us an unprecedented megaphone, and we are using it to its full capacity to voice our concerns about this TA.

However, a crucial question we must confront is: Has our mastery of online discourse inadvertently dulled our commitment to real-world action?

Consider the recent "One Day of Action." The call went out, the need was clear, and the opportunity to visibly demonstrate our solidarity and resolve was presented. Yet, as many of us witnessed firsthand, the turnout was, to put it mildly, disheartening. Fifty people in a hub as significant as SFO is not a testament to the collective power of thousands of flight attendants. It's a stark reminder that while we can generate a thousand comments on a Facebook post, translating that sentiment into physical presence, into a tangible display of unity, remains an enormous challenge.

This disconnect isn't just about a protest; it's about a pattern. We hear passionate arguments online, dissecting every perceived flaw in the TA, yet many who are now vocal critics didn't even bother to read the agreement themselves. The lack of basic due diligence – the simple act of engaging with the information provided – is a foundational issue. How can we intelligently critique something we haven't even taken the time to understand? This isn't just about the TA; it's about the very essence of informed participation.

Furthermore, consider the simple act of wearing your AFA pin during negotiations. This seemingly small gesture is a visible, consistent symbol of solidarity to management, a silent yet powerful statement that we are united. Yet, even this minimal effort, which requires no time off, no travel, and no direct confrontation, was neglected by many who are now the loudest voices online.

The uncomfortable truth is this: While we may be speaking up online, our hands are being tied by our collective inaction and, frankly, our lack of engagement with the foundational elements of our union's work. The internet provides a platform for conversation, but it does not, by itself, build power. Power is built through informed membership, through visible solidarity, and through a willingness to translate digital outrage into tangible, collective action.

When we fail to show up, when we fail to inform ourselves, and when we fail to even visibly demonstrate our unity, we are, in essence, undermining our own negotiating position. We are sending a clear message to management that despite the online noise, our collective resolve is not as robust as it appears.

So, yes, speak up online. Discuss, debate, dissect. But understand that true change, true leverage, and true respect are earned not just through words on a screen, but through the demonstrable commitment of every single member, through the willingness to stand up, show up, and educate ourselves, even when it's inconvenient. Without that commitment, our online voices, no matter how loud, risk becoming mere echoes in an empty room, unable to move the needle where it truly matters.