Originally Posted by
JustAMushroom
I don't think you could really do much worse without a union at several of the companies listed. Literally. The only benefit the union provided was saving the company from itself. And yes, it would have been worse in the short term for those affected. But a few of the unions you mentioned are actually hurting the ones they say they represent by not having the strength to be flexible.
You honestly believe MESA would have kept their contract in tact when they went into Bk? PSA and PDT wouldn't have been asked if they wanted a flow thru or preferential interview in exchange for concessions. They would've just give them concessions. Same at places that are in negotiations like AWAC. I know for a fact, things would be worse at xjt. Stop kidding yourself.
As for flexibility? Sure, we can all be flexible. But in a union, we get asked to be flexible and not just told to do so. If they want something in the contract changed for flexibility, then they negotiate an LOA. It's a give and take and it happens all the time. We are on LOA 9 so far. The company is given what they want, the union negotiates something in return, and if the pilots decide it's worth it, then it's ratified. But we get to decide. We don't have small things here and there reinterpreted over the years without any recourse. Those are the types of things that get included in LOAs for the pilots to decide whether the risk is worth whatever reward or punishment we get. It's akin to being treated as a professional rather than a child who is told what they get.