I frequently hear our pilots suggest that Fred is so tight with the US Gvm't that they (governmental agencies who impact us) won't let us strike or won't release to self-help etc. It seems to me this is just the thing mgmt wants us to believe so I'm wondering where these defeatist ideas come from? Addressing three of the most frequently brought-up issues:

I understand that UPS was not released to self-help because the NMB heard the pilots go for a second strike vote which communicated to the NMB that the pilots were unwilling to negotiate any further. So in an effort to send a signal of determination, the pilot inadvertantly sent the wrong signal. This is one reason our NC won't touch a strike vote until a strike is absolutely the last recourse and not waste it (my words) on sending signals.

The negotiations flow chart in about every issue of Positive Rate clearly indicates that Presidential intervention will only hold off a strike for another 30 days beyond the cooling off period. Presidential intervention can not prevent us from striking at the end of that period of study by the Presidental Board. No where is there any indication the President can unilaterally prevent pilots or any other employee group from exercising a tool which is clearly sanctioned by federal law.

The ATC controllers' strike back in 1980 is an apple to our orange. ATC controllers were (and still are) federal government employees and as such had a no-strike provision attached to their contract or whatever document governed their employment. They gambled that the government would cave to their demands not believing Regan would fire them, which was his legal recourse.