The union's action demonstrated the discipline of its membership.

[pilotyip]

Mercy Rule

They just need the courage of our convictions, and the knowledge that management won't shoot their cash cow....

They might elect to kill the cow as a mercy rule, as opposed to seeing it strave to death and bleed to death over a longer period of time. After all it is their job to protect the cow from those who do not care about the cow. Those who would like to barbque it right now with no thought about what to eat in the future. BTW This is a cow story not a bull story.

 

[PCL_128]

It is a fact, that alpa representation will always prefer a negotiated settlement over a strike. Period.

True, and there's a reason for that: strikes usually don't work. Time and again, throughout our profession's history, it has been demonstrated that strikes just don't produce dividends in an overwhelming majority of the cases. A strike is a last resort.

 

[Freight Dog]

True, and there's a reason for that: strikes usually don't work. Time and again, throughout our profession's history, it has been demonstrated that strikes just don't produce dividends in an overwhelming majority of the cases. A strike is a last resort.

That really depends on what you're measuring. You see, if the strike threat is real, then you can negotiate from a position of power. Our contracts got raped and pillaged since 9/11, and we all stood idly by and watched.

So what credibility do we have if we don't use it to truly draw the line in the sand, and especially if ALPA demonstrates that they're willing to fly for free like they did at Aloha?

 

[pilotyip]

The 90-day UAW strike did wonders for the American Axel workers in Detroit. 40% pay cut and a reduction in benefits. Agreed to 50% out sourcing of their present production. It was the best they could get, you can not make a silk purse out of the Pig’s ear.

 

[PCL_128]

That really depends on what you're measuring. You see, if the strike threat is real, then you can negotiate from a position of power. Our contracts got raped and pillaged since 9/11, and we all stood idly by and watched.

We stood idly by because the strikes were deemed illegal, for starters. We ended up with better agreements than the BK judges would have forced on us, also. This is called pragmatism rather than foolhardy dick measuring just to make yourself feel better. You have to know when to fold your cards. When the industry is doing well, you can use the threat of a strike to make huge gains, but while languishing in bankruptcy, there's not much you can do under the current system. Contribute to ALPA-PAC to get the BK laws changed, and maybe we'll have some power again.

So what credibility do we have if we don't use it to truly draw the line in the sand, and especially if ALPA demonstrates that they're willing to fly for free like they did at Aloha?

I haven't talked to any Aloha reps or any National reps about the Aloha situation, so I won't make a judgement about the decisions in that case. I don't have the facts. I trust that your reps and the National reps made a smart and pragmatic choice until I learn otherwise.

 

[CopilotDoug]

We stood idly by because the strikes were deemed illegal, for starters. We ended up with better agreements than the BK judges would have forced on us, also. This is called pragmatism rather than foolhardy dick measuring just to make yourself feel better. You have to know when to fold your cards. When the industry is doing well, you can use the threat of a strike to make huge gains, but while languishing in bankruptcy, there's not much you can do under the current system. Contribute to ALPA-PAC to get the BK laws changed, and maybe we'll have some power again.

Right or wrong, this will only assist in lowering pilot pay. There is always going to be another pilot to do it for less (eg Skybus). If pilots are continually willing to throw their hands up if the face of pay cuts and benefits reduction and say, "It beats real work" then
they'll just have to change their style of living to meet their lower income. How many of those ALPA contracts stuck after 9/11?

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Was there a pilot strike in US history that was overly successful? A clear win for pilots and a clear loss for management?