needsumluv said:
The problem with this is that NWA would have to come up with some serious cash to fund these planes while asking for concessions from their employees. I don't see that happening. The contracts w/ XJ and 9E would have to be renegotiated with NWA b/c I think they currently require them to get their planes through NWA. The solution that is best for NWA employees is to see a third airlink that provides their own planes.
And when everything is said and done, NWA employees are going to do what is best for NWA. It's their future and pensions that are on the line. They work in a partnership w/ XJ and 9E. The benefits although indirectly linked to NWA are not tied to NWA. Their benefits and wages are determined by those at the top of their company and is dependant on the deals each company has negotiated w/ NWA and the profit margins they would like to see for their stock holders. The NWA employee group is not going to change but although it is not likely, it is possible that neither XJ or 9E could remain an airlink partner w/ NWA in the years to come.
Some hypothetical questions, what if the pilots negotiated into their contracts that all flying had to be done by XJ and 9E? What would then happen if either of them refused to sign the contract and demanded to be paid much more? Would NWA be forced to pay substantial increases b/c the pilots had limited them in choice of partners? Would employees have to take more concessions to pay for this? What if the contract was dissolved? Could a totally different carrier then be brought in to fly any type they wanted b/c it was not in mainline's ta?
