Originally Posted by skybolt

You started off on the right track, then went sideways with this comment,

The lack of true unity building events/exercises/activities is the primary signpost to me that we were in trouble from the beginning. THAT lack is what has me worried.

Under the RLA, we have almost zero leverage in negotiations. We are legally bound to work according to our past amendable date CBA. We can't walk away, we can't wildcat strike, we can't pull of CHAOS. We just can't withhold our services.

Which leaves us where? How do we obtain leverage?

1. The free market can grant us an advantage. When the company is unable to fill seats due to their lack of competitiveness in the job market, then the company will have to improve conditions to attract candidates. That's not really "leverage" but it certainly works in our favor.

2. We threaten to strike. BTW, a strike is not "leverage", a strike is a failure of negotiations. The THREAT of the strike is the leverage, not the strike. (That statement comes directly from the ALPA SPSC National Chair in 2007, and from the ALPA National staff negotiation trainer of the same era)

So where am I going with this you ask. Here >>>>To present a credible threat to the company, the pilot group has to become accustomed to acting per MEC direction, to moving together when the MEC says move, to follow the leadership closely enough to scare the company into believing - to accepting - that the pilots can pull off a successful strike.

We win, when the company realizes that a strike will cost them more than paying us not to strike, and that realization causes them to pay up rather than face a strike. In short, we need the unity events to build that unity and to show the company our resolve to improve our contract.

PS, we need unity events, NOT roadshows of a non existent TA.