Originally Posted by
saab2000
I disagree. It is largely dead because the teeth have been completely taken out of the unions. Strikes are essentially impossible. No credible threat of a strike = no leverage.
There is simply no power left on the labor side of the equation. We can be as united as we want, but the judges and congress and the president have consistently sided with the corporations, especially the airlines, for the past 15 years or so.
And there not much public support for pilot action either.
At least that's how I see it.
A reasonable person can't disagree with that; the current political and social aspect of unionism cannot be overlooked.
While airline labor strikes have been in exceedingly short supply during the Bush Administration, there can be PLENTY accomplished by the pilot group without a formal release by the NLRB; look no further than Northwest's "BoB" or ASA's "HAVOC" in the last 2 years as examples of what pilots can accomplish when they fly the contract, fly the FOM, call in sick when they are sick, and refuse to fly broken airplanes.
Unfortunately, doing those things requires personal sacrifice, and most people aren't willing to make those sacrifices (like missing a commute, talking to a flight manager, justifying their actions, refusing to be pressured) unless they can see an IMMEDIATE benefit in front of them. When enough people become willing to make a little personal sacrifice, and get on board with grass-roots movements (NOT wildcat job actions) then the company starts to take notice and eventually, things change.
My preference is that action to status quo...and the person or party in control of this country's political apparatus doesn't prevent pilots and pilot groups working together for common gain.