No pilot shortage at top tier airlines
Reality is that most pilot groups at top tier airlines have not seen an actual increase in negotiation leverage. There is nowhere for their pilots to go other than other top tier airlines that happen to have a better domicile for the individual pilot. The RLA is strangling any attempts at self help. Management has every incentive to drag out negotiations and none to sign a deal. This is a crappy state of affairs with the only way out being to play the RLA game smarter than management with the goal of being ultimately released for self help (strike). Hopefully, at least one group succeeds.