Originally Posted by
LoudFastRules
In an ideal world, your theory would be correct. However look at Virgin America and JetBlue. Both companies made a big deal about how good it was to treat employees properly and how unions weren't required at "good" companies. Both airlines recently voted in ALPA by large majorities.
In your example of the pilots who called in sick, they would all be fired. Over and done, with no union to fight for them and get them back to work with back pay.
All airlines need unions. The IBT sucks. ALPA sucks. I'm sure plenty of the in-house unions suck too. Guess what, the airline management groups suck more. The unions' suckiness is still significantly better than having no union at all. Despite their many flaws, unions are an absolute necessity in the airline world, especially when safety is a concern.
Airlines such as jetblue voted in alpa simply for the merger language as far as seniority list integration. Don't get me wrong, I think alpa is ok at the lcc/major level, just not at the regional level. I don't advocate going unionless just because I think the company is a cool place to work for a period in time. Alpa simply doesn't represent regional pilots. I don't think you will find anyone to disagree. Alpa is currently working on stuff like "fee for departure interview tips" and the like. Regionals shouldn't even exist.
The company may try to make an example of a few pilots who call in sick, but if you are sick you are sick, that's creeping up into whistleblower area. Companies generally don't fire employees in safety sensitive areas for being sick, imagine the press. Take this example to another extreme, 200 pilots call in sick. Now what? Fire who? Sue who?
To address your final point, I question any pilots worth or judgment who needs to rely on a union for matters of safety? Where's your captain authority? Where is your safety and moral compass? Do you care about yourself, your family, and your passengers? Being captain is more than just holding it on the seniority list.
If not now then when.
PS - as soon as you guys sign this thing which I know you will, bankruptcy will be next.