I know you are not in this industry yet, so I will try educate rather than try to make you feel dumb for your response.

In the airline industry, there is this wonderful (sarcasm) piece of legislation called the Railway Labor Act. It's purpose is to keep the railroads and the airlines moving. If these entities were to shut down due to a labor strike, the country would feel the effects, big time. So the Railway Labor Act is designed to keep labor from cutting off a vital artery to the country.

The unfortunate part of the Railway Labor Act (for those of us who work in the airline industry) is that means you cannot strike without going through a long and strenuous process. You must negotiate for a while (typically years). Then the National Mediation Board (NMB) steps in and helps mediate the contract talks. If things still do not go well, you have to request the NMB to release you for a 30 day cooling off period. If they agree, and no agreement is reached, the NMB may release you for self help (that means a sickout, job action, or a strike).

Notice the word MAY in here. The NMB does not have to release a pilot group for self help. The Bush administration has told the NMB not to release an airline labor group for self help (ie, strike) during the remainder of his term. And it is not just Republicans who are unfriendly to airline labor groups striking. During the Clinton presidency in 1997, American Airlines pilots went on strike, and President Clinton invoked emergency powers to order them back to work.

The long story is that if an airline labor group wants to better their profession and working conditions, they have to through a long and strenuous process that usually hurts the labor group. Even if they make it through the process (which often takes 3-5 years), and end up going on strike, the president can step in and order them back to work.

Airline labor groups have their hands tied behind their back because of the Railway Labor Act

But pilots still do have leverage? How? They can slow down an airlines operation, and that is LEGAL.

This is basically the only quick, legal, solution to pressure management into negotiating. In 2000, United pilots refused to work overtime for 3 months. In addition, they used many of the same methods as have been mentioned earlier in this thread. After about 3 months, management agreed to give them a 48% raise (12% a year for 4 years). A little pressure from the pilot group kept them from having to go through that long and useless mediation process under the NMB.


Pinnacle is a low quality regional airline in terms of employee compensation. First and second year FO's flying up to 76 seat aircraft make less than $25,000 a year. That is basically the poverty level. Even captains at Pinnacle make less than most other regional airlines. So they have every right to pressure management for a new contract.

And they are NOT stealing. They are simply doing things "by the book." Imagine if you were a taxi driver, and suddenly you began:

• Only driving the speed limit, and slower on a rainy day.
• Stopping for 3 seconds at every stop sign
• Leaving 3 car lengths in between you and the car in front of you, even during rush hour traffic.
• Not changing lanes unless there was ample room.

You get the idea. You are still doing everything "by the book." It is perfectly legal. In fact, technically, what you were doing before hand was illegal.
The same is true for the pilots of Pinnacle. Everything they are proposing is legal, and safer than before. In fact, technically, some of the stuff they are doing on a normal basis is not the safest.


Pinnacle pilots only leverage is to slow down and do things "by the book." They are still giving 100%, just not anymore.

I for one am proud of the Pinnacle pilot group. They are working for better pay and work rules which will benefit the entire industry. And everything they are talking about is perfectly legal. I just hope they implement it to put some pressure on management. They will not get a contract this decade if they have to go through the entire NMB process. And even then they may still be forbidden from striking. So what's the point.

Do you understand now skywatch? If you don't, please feel free to ask for clarification. Pinnacle pilots are not stealing. They are simply using their leverage to get better pay and work rules. And everything they are talking about is 100% legal!!