RedeyeAV8r

A good question Beeker but not quite as simple as you you might think. So excuse the Long Rant. But for you fledglings read on, you just might learn something.

Disclaimer. I am using Airline names below as an example only and no intent or accusation is implied..............

Each ALPA carrier is covered (or works) under their own individual contract.............i.e. USair works under a different set of rules (i.e. contract) than Continental does or NWA or FDX, Gemini or ASTAR.

While all these groups, (Pilots) are members of ALPA, they all have different contracts. Some are current contracts, some are Amendable (Amendable means that particular group is in Negotiations.). Many are being twisted and destroyed in Bankruptcy courts as you have witnessed (USAir, NWA and UAL and DAL). Airline Contracts are under the auspice of the Railway Labor Act (RLA).
Contracts under the RLA never expire.........they only become amendable at the end of the specified date.

Any "legal" strike at an airline can only come after the National Mediation Board (NMB) has declared an impasse in further negotiations between the Specific airline Managment and it's Specific ALPA Master Executive Council (MEC). Thus any sympathy strike by another ALPA carrier, especially during a CURRENT contract would be considered a Wildcat Strike and thus would be illegal.

Also ALPA (or any Union for that matter) defines what will be considered Struck Work should it be necessary to "Strike". Struck work for an Airline Pilot would be Acting any flight capacity for any Flight under the Banner or Brand name.....for example during the NWA strike of 1997........any pilot operating a Northwest Aircraft or any Pilot operating an Aircraft with the Call sign Northwest or Utilizing a Northwest SLOT carrying passengers or Frieght for Northwest would be performing struck work........and thus would be labeled a SCAB...............Of course this would be no different if a NON ALPA airplane did the same thing.......American or UPS.

Consequently..........United or Delta Pilots (example only) who carried stranded Northwest passengers or freight did not perform struck work. They were operating under their own individual contracts and thus were not crossing any Picket lines.......
....Now if a Delta or United or USAir or FDX aircraft pulled up to a Northwest gate and emplaned Northwest passengers with Northwest tickets......or pulled into the Northwest Freight ramp and loaded NW freight pallets, that would be performing struck work and would be crossing a Picket line.

Unlike that of labor contracts under the RLA other Labor organizations...UAW, United Steel Workers for example are covered under a diffeent set of Laws. These Unions work Under the auspice of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Contracts under the NLRB can expire..at the end of the negotiated term.........This is why you see the UAW or Steel Workers say they will strike at Mid-Night at the end of their contract.......because it has expired.(unlike Airline contracts)

This is why( in my opinion) it will be necessary for all Airline Unions to try to get all their individual affiliates one one Seniority list( easier said than done)...........and eventually try to attempt the beginnings of a national list...again much easier said than done).

I am not attempting to start, condone or advocate anything but If all of the US Pilots' Unions were able to organize and pull off (getting all pilots to honor it) a nation wide Wildcat strike, my guess is things would change for the better. I believe the Pension thing would have been resolved as well as other issues.......................but again all this talk is easier said than done.