All the talk about self help and a strike
I have seen lots and heard lots about mediation and it the first step to self help. You guys that are thinking that this is the road to a strike are right but you and many others a Floptions are missing a very big, very important point.
We don't need to strike. In fact in this business we can be much more effective and be much more "persuasive to management" not striking and remaining on duty.
A Strike
The purpose of a strike is to shut the company down by the aircraft not moving. Will this put pressure on management? Yes no doubt. but what are the down sides of a strike? First and foremost we will not be receiving a pay check and we will all be paying cobra for our health insurance. We may have to face management replacing us as we do not have a contract right now. These and other things that will have a very negative effect on each of us and our families.
A more effective strike.
As pilots each of us have the power to decide if a aircraft flys on any given day. The ink pen that resides in your shirt pocket right next to our new ridiculous gay looking wings and the authority that is given to you by the license in you wallet and the FAA, provide you with the tools to effect the same result as a strike. The big difference is while you are exercising this action, you will continue to receive a pay check and benefits. Now not only are the jets not moving but management still is carrying the expense of our labor cost. A double whammy.
Some will say that this is an illegal job action. Bullsh!t. The only thing that would make it illegal is if you were writing up erroneous squawks. There is nothing illegal about doing a preflight wit a magnifying glass and using it will have the same effect on management as strike.
Think about it.
If we had the majority of our pilots, the same percentage that would honor a strike, understand these very simple facts, we might already have a contract. Instead we still have pilots carrying known discrepancies, working OT, over duty day, going the "extra mile" to suck managements a$$. If you are a supporter of the hard work that our union negotiators are doing then its time to look at the pilots that are not flying the pledge as SCABS and treating them as such. If a strike were ever called it is these same pilots that will cross the line so you may as well recognize them for what they are now, SCABS .
The sooner that our pilots understand this and make the pledge their mantra, the sooner that management will have no recourse but to negotiate and to step up to the bar with a industry standard contract.
Fly The Pledge,,,,, and start today.