The issue as I see it is one of wages go down in bad times (consessions,etc,) but stay the same in good times because of the contract. We have to wait for our contract renewal to get a pay increase. So when a boom cycle comes, we have to wait. Also, ALPA doesn't want anything done outside of the contract. I remember several years ago that Pinnacle offered a hiring bonus to get people to stay, because people were getting hired, finding out how crappy it was (no offense to the pilots, but I've heard horror stories with sched, etc), and bailing. They had such a huge retention issue that they tried to pay more in a "hiring bonus" and ALPA stopped it saying it wasn't part of the contract. I understand why they did it. I believe they were right essentially, but I wonder how hard it would be to get the company to open up section 6 negotiations before the amendable date. It seems that would have been the perfect time to do it, when the company needed pilots. Unfortunately, when there is a pilot shortage the contract prevents any increase for "supply and demand" forces.

Also, we can't just strike. It is against the law. That is why we need to get out from the RLA in my opinion. But that is whole 'nother discussion.