Originally Posted by
sqwkvfr
First, I what you to know that I'm completely with you. You've heard the story about tossing the frog in the pan of boiling water? The frog would jump out. However, put the frog in a pan of cool water and slowly heat it up, the frog with boil to death.
The company is slowly heating the water with respect to their NUMEROUS status quo violations. If the company had done all of these things at once, any lawyer in the country would have agreed that it was a serious and obvious violation of status quo, but when they do it slowly, they get away with it.
That being said; the local has gone to the IBT national more than once regarding these various violations of status quo. From what I understand, the closest we were to walking out was when the company attempted to take action against the pilot that created rahcontractnow.org on the union's behalf.
The problem is that IBT national's lawyers claim that a status quo has not been violated. (Again, an assessment with which I COMPLETELY disagree, particularly on the new-hire bonuses) If IBT national makes this determination and the local engages in self help on it's own, there will be no support from IBT national. No legal help, no legal picket lines, no financial backing. We'd be on our own.
The problem is that IBT national will not let us strike.
On a related note, RAH, GoJet, Kalitta, Allegiant...most of the airlines that are engaged in difficult contract negotiations are represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters...coincidence?
While I'm appreciative and very much respect Local 357's (RAH pilot's local) EBoard, NC and other leaders and chairpeople, I think that it's high time that airline pilots give serious consideration to letting the IBT focus on their core business....representing truckers.
My statements are not to be construed as support for APLA: Their complete indifference to the plight of regional pilots has been demonstrated time and again. Unless there is a serious shift in attitude and culture at ALPA national, I'm convinced that they are not the answer, either.
So what is the answer? Not trying to put you on the spot, just making sure people start to think about this (as if it's not on everyone's mind already). How can we go forward, there HAS to be some action we are able to take. I thank the NC for their support and I know they are busting ass to make sure the holes are plugged in the next CBA, but there is only so much they can do. How can there be more pressure to the company to get this moved forward? We are already canceling 150+ flights a day to lack of crews. It seems like no degree of dire forecasts can make the pace increase.
Frustrating.