Originally Posted by
Climbto450
I think market forces will change some things for us in the short run however not to industry standard. Just enough to slow the bleed of pilots to an accptable loss. Without a CBA those things will be gone with the first hicup in the economy. I would like to see in house in the long run but unfortunatly IBT/ALPA has deep enough pockets to weather the initial onslot and get us thru the initial rough years. I would rather see an in house like SWAPA but our management does not embrace a union(or the fixed cost perspective that a union can offer) the way SW management did in their begining years. Hence the first org that offfers a CBA/representation has my vote. I appreciate your difference in perspective but I care more about some level of representation and a CBA than none at all (even if it is ALPA).
Without a doubt pay and benefits are important but an even greater concern is protecting our careers. Only a CBA can provide us the necessary merger language. Only ALPA has the legal resources to enforce that language.
Barger himself will tell you we are a target. We have been in the past and will continue to be so in the future. In fact, the analyst were upset last year when Jetblue refused to accept AA's NDA request. This decision, in the end, becomes the Board of Directors. If the offer is significant enough then the airline will sell. Look at the current and planned infrastructure upgrades. Building terminals and lodges which other airlines will use.