Originally Posted by
Radials Rule
I am not sure about your definition of "normal times" and I too agree that harassment is wrong.....in most cases....the exception being, pilots on furlough.
As for discouraging VX, I personally think that should be saved until later, say at an impasse during negotiations. If or when that happens, then VX'ers should be shunned, much like those that refuse to wear the Teamsters lanyard.
In any case, now, we should all be following the CBA to the letter, not make deals and not do them any favors.
I think the debate over VX is putting a lot of effort into something that really doesn't affect operations much. What would the company do if we all stopped VX? With our current CBA probably spin everyone's schedules willy nilly to make it all fit. We saw it over the winter when there was so much extra flying being offered even with everyone VX'ing to their hearts content they still had to blow up schedules to fit in the extra flying.
Point being, pilots have many other ways show solidarity and put pressure on the company. Following the CBA
religiously, not doing other people's jobs to get the planes out on time, and even making sure everyone has their silly yellow lanyards on shows the company that we mean business. Whether pilots VX or not is small potatoes compared to DHL throwing a fit when Atlas can't get the packages delivered on time.
Plus besides showing the company how much pilots do for the operation as a negotiating tactic, I think it's a good lesson to get the non-pilot employees to pull their own weight. The company as a whole will work a lot better if incompetence is not tolerated instead of passing issues along for pilots and other employees to deal with.