Delta still would not have been allowed to strike. The politics pretty much won't allow it to happen. And everyone in the food chain related to the Railway Labor act knows it. Too much at steak nationally for the transportation system and commerce. The public would crucify the politicians if their vacation plans were interrupted. They may have gotten to a 30-day cooling off period, but other solutions would have ben employed to keep labor working. Legislative or a PEB.

Also, as far as UAL goes, as long as some progress is being made at the bargaining table, no matter how small, the mediation board really won't consider a request. There has to be no progress being made for the mediation board to take the requests seriously. This is not pie in the sky wishful thinking for filing for mediation. The game is rigged against labor and this is how it is played. It really is all up to Kirby. We are years away from a strike--more likely only a 30-day cooling off period, probably 6 months minimum away from requests for mediation--then a year or more in mediation. If the wheels fall off during this summer and Kirby wants a solution, he knows what he must do. He thinks UAL is positioned fairly well for the summer flying, I don't think so much. Just do your jobs and everything will happen as it may.

in the mean time, we have to keep doing what we are doing and not resort to individual job actions or rhetoric. That will be used against the union in an injunction.

This sucks. But it is what it is. In the words of the Disney movie Robinsons, "we have to keep moving forward," but do so cautiously.