He evidently was pleased with both the result and the turnout, higher than even he saw coming.
He called it a very good start to establishing a sophisticated and enforceable set of protections for our members.
Crabtree-Ireland said additional funding will give the healthcare trustees financial flexibility in future.
Fran Drescher & Duncan Crabtree-IrelandGetty
Finally, he also said that he was already starting to think about the 2026 negotiations.
Theyll come around sooner than we think.
DEADLINE:Congratulations on the ratification; how are you feeling?
Im really happy about it.
DEADLINE:78.33% is a much higher number than many people were expecting.
There seemed to be many people who were concerned about the number in the last few days.
CRABTREE-IRELAND:I am very, very pleased about it.
Thats obviously not what we had in this case.
CRABTREE-IRELAND:It may have been higher than I expected.
So I had hoped for a result in this ballpark, and obviously, Im happy with the results.
But were here to represent everybody.
So thats part of the democratic process, its totally fine.
DEADLINE:Have you ever wondered why the other 62% arent voting?
CRABTREE-IRELAND:Its a good question.
People have busy lives.
That makes me feel like there is a high level of engagement from the membership.
Its the first time ever that that self-tapes and that casting process has been regulated with very specific limitation.
I think thats been overshadowed by the anxiety over AI.
But those are things that are bread-and-butter issues that members are going to start feeling.
But thats not realistic.
Thats not something we can accomplish.
I must have said it a thousand times on picket lines and everywhere else.
We accomplished those things.
This contract has informed consent.
It has fair compensation.
It has a structure to build on generative AI.
I also note that this is not the only way were trying to address AI.
It is a huge important part of it.
DEADLINE:Do you think the issue of AI has clouded the positive economics of the deal?
DEADLINE:When do you start thinking about the 2026 contract?
CRABTREE-IRELAND:I think were already starting to think about it.
But just to also note, we still havea contract to negotiate with the video game companies.
Werein the midst of that bargaining.
