Employers don't disagree with a proactive approach; in fact, we support it. In a nutshell, employers believe it's important to identify gaps where they exist, identify the reasons for the gaps, and develop a plan to close the gap. Understanding why the gap exists is most important, and also enlisting, in a unionized environment, the assistance of the union to work with the employer to achieve agreements and address issues that will close the gap.
We cannot set wages in collective bargaining unilaterally. We are compelled to set wages and benefits in conjunction with the unions. They have to share with us the responsibility to understand what needs to be accomplished and work with us to achieve it. This is really one of the main points that we wish to make to this—