Pilot Unions exist for the safety of pilots and passengers.

[Cardinal]

The single most important thing my contract does for me is allow me to say NO. NO, I'm not flying that unsafe airplane. NO, I'm not flying in that weather. Ask a Part 135 guy how it feels to know that if you don't take the flight, you won't eat next week.

 

[pilotyip]

Cardinal, the contract will not protect you from being discharged for refusing to fly what you determine is an unsafe airplane. I worked for union carrier where a Captain refused to fly an airplane with an item he considered unsafe, the company said it was properly deferred via the MEL, take it or you do not work here. Another union pilot flew the airplane that night. The union could not restore his job. Now if there is a company that wants you to fly illegally then you owe it the company and yourself to quit.

 

[YourPilotFriend]

Yeah you can quit, but what about the passengers you left behind. Their safety is our job, not theirs. There will always be that guy who will fly that airplane with those passengers. Not standing up for ourselves and saying NO to management, is neglecting our #1 job.