Originally Posted by
tsquare
Look no further than USAir to answer that question. Everybody seems to want to get back to "normal" payrates rather than the BK rates we are in right now, but for some reason blindness sets in when they talk about how to obtain that. You are correct in your analysis that management (and Wall Street) does not like uncertainty. True dat. The problem is how do you determine just how much uncertainty they will tolerate before they allow us to wallow in our own feces. (Again, look over at USAir.. they are making money as a corporation, it is just the pilots who are sucking wind) Standing up and delivering an ultimatum will probably get us rather quickly to that point. YES.. we deserve to be paid more.. a LOT more. I would never disagree with that, but I disagree with the methods of getting to the objective that many seem to have. The other part. We had a good strike vote back in 2000. That probably did lead to management coming to the table with a good offer. That also took unity. This is a sincere question about this: Do you think that we have that kind of unity with the DPA guys wanting to
decertify DALPA? Not flaming.. just asking.
As far as having SWA's scope clause.. I am not sure what effect it would have. I honestly do not know. We could very well find that DAL decides to change the direction they are going wrt all international flying, and they could send a ton of guys out the door. "Every reaction has an equal and opposite reaction" a once very smart man said.... or as another said "Be careful what you wish for" I just don't have enough information to make
that call.... I admire your confidence.
A little more on the strike vote. I am sure DALPA will be coming out with tons of information about the process in the coming months. An actual strike is a loooooooooong way off after the process begins, and there is a specific chain of events before the NMB gets involved. Be prepared.
That USair nonsense will end shortly. Their management has asked a judge to determine which path they can go, to either accept the NIC award or not, and the answer is pretty obvious to most. The verdict is supposed to be given by the end of this month. USair may force the new union to abide by the binding NIC award, and then a contract can be negotiated. USair management wants it done too, so it can attract merger partners and their unions. Higher pay and benefits may sway some people and creditors at good ole AMR....