Originally Posted by
tomgoodman
The RLA, by locking in the current contract until a new one is reached, favors whichever side least wants a change. When workers in the industry as a whole are gaining contract improvements, management likes the foot-dragging ability given them by the RLA. But when unions at other carriers are being forced to make concessions, management gets impatient for their turn with the axe, and dislikes the RLA.
Tom, I've only been in the industry for about a dozen years, but in that time I've never seen a concessionary contract at a legacy that was drawn out by the RLA. American and CAL voted for concessions, Alaska had them assigned in binding arbitration, and USAir, UAL, DAL, and NWA had their contracts assigned in Chapter 11. Conversely, the pilots at CAL and American, looking for gains, are past their amendable dates as we speak. I believe that pattern holds mostly true historically. Concessions happen quickly without regard for amendable dates, while gains typically take well past amendable dates.