Rez O. Lewshun
Save the Profession
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2004
- Posts
- 13,422
The APA and USAPA have recently lauded the success of the Spirit strike, seeking to get leverage for themselves what the Spirit pilots have worked hard for.
http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1997688,00.html
http://usairlinepilots.org/us-airwa...lots-in-quest-for-industry-standard-contract/
The issue is, if Spirit was not ALPA, then they could not have conducted a successful strike. (TA pending, yet APA and USAPA seem to like things so far).
The APA tried to strike during the Clinton Admin, and barely saved face. They were underfunded, unorganized and lacked external support. They asked for the PEB from Clinton because the risk of failure was too great. The PEB saved their bacon. Combine that with the 45M legal action, the APA has had its moments, but has yet to prove itself effective.
The lack of ability for USAPA to conduct an effective strike is self evident.
The bottom line is, with combined resources, real strike experience, a large number of different pilot groups, a MCF, and a union which is truly global AND a part of the AFL-CIO..... call it ALPA or whatever you want.... the fact is.... in house unions ability to strike is really in question.
The NPA left in house status for reason...... and they are next to gain the benefits off the Spirit strike.... if Airtran pilots were still NPA would they have the same leverage??
Without a creditable threat to strike, management knows they can delay and play as they will.....
To conduct a successful strike a union needs:
Organization and experience
Alliances with labor (AFL-CIO, IFALPA)
and of course, money.
http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1997688,00.html
http://usairlinepilots.org/us-airwa...lots-in-quest-for-industry-standard-contract/
The issue is, if Spirit was not ALPA, then they could not have conducted a successful strike. (TA pending, yet APA and USAPA seem to like things so far).
The APA tried to strike during the Clinton Admin, and barely saved face. They were underfunded, unorganized and lacked external support. They asked for the PEB from Clinton because the risk of failure was too great. The PEB saved their bacon. Combine that with the 45M legal action, the APA has had its moments, but has yet to prove itself effective.
The lack of ability for USAPA to conduct an effective strike is self evident.
The bottom line is, with combined resources, real strike experience, a large number of different pilot groups, a MCF, and a union which is truly global AND a part of the AFL-CIO..... call it ALPA or whatever you want.... the fact is.... in house unions ability to strike is really in question.
The NPA left in house status for reason...... and they are next to gain the benefits off the Spirit strike.... if Airtran pilots were still NPA would they have the same leverage??
Without a creditable threat to strike, management knows they can delay and play as they will.....
To conduct a successful strike a union needs:
Organization and experience
Alliances with labor (AFL-CIO, IFALPA)
and of course, money.
