Originally Posted by
tsquare
Fear? OK.. if that makes you feel better than run with that. I agree with you that we made lots of sacrifices.. never have I said anything different. I think we need to be paid a LOT more...
So are you OK with the "constructive engagement" style? If not, I will refer you to what you said above. " I expect a Labor Union to exploit opportunity where it is seen." The MEC has been able to do that, yet because it is not done via a bloody nose to the company, it is not seen as successful... I just wanted your take on it. I totally disagree with you last sentence. But that is your opinion, and you are entitled to that. I have seen the relationships that existed between pilots and other groups at NWA, and they were much more commonly contentious than they were at DAL. I prefer the DAL way. Again.. my opinion. (I liked having the FAs put my meal on a plate.. it was civilized... and most of them didn't seem to mind doing that either.)
I'm okay with whatever works, and if it's "constructive engagement", detached negotiation, or walking up and down the front of the terminal with with a placard. The toolbox needs to have more than one tool in it. If the only tool you have is a hammer, pretty soon every problem starts looking like a nail. I value the positive results of constructive engagement, and I realize confrontation is a last resort. But it needs to be a viable resort. Have you been to a strike committee meeting or organizational event lately? I haven't. I never remember any animosity between employee groups at NWA, we were all unionized and as such the spectacle of what frequently occurred in public during contract negotiations at Delta never occurred. We were always pulling for you, and to see the company and the non-union line employees creating farcical events to disrupt your negotiations was unnerving. I do remember getting my meals on a plate, but I haven't seen anything but "little friskies" canned mush and crackers lately.