Carl,

You are incorrect with regard to the NMB and American does serve as a very relevant example.

There is another consideration however ... the legitimacy of the bargaining agent to call a strike. I would not cross an ALPA line because our leadership has earned my trust sufficient for me to hand them my resignation notice for the purpose of negotiation. I can not say the same at this point for the DPA. The fact the DPA is even making an issue (if you purport to speak for the DPA) of a strike this early suggests my concerns with their lack of strategic thought are well founded.

I think the last "choke the golden goose until it gives up it's last egg" was United. Their contract fight resulted in their being the first major to declare bankruptcy. The ensuing restructuring transferred pension obligations and destroyed their contract. United's employees who "bought the company" lost their investment and then some. Delta patterned off of United and got the same result.

I supported the American pilots and still think they were morally correct. The Judge ( and the Real World ) fully vindicated ALPA's position.

FWIW, that's the recent history. How does the DPA think we would avoid the perils that United, Delta, Northwest and American all succumbed to?