Were not in the situation were in because we like the work we do. If that was true, more interesting jobs would pay less. Thats not how the world works.

The reason why we seem to be moving backwards when everyone else is moving forward is the fact that we are covered under a peice of legislation unique to the airlines and railways which severely restricts our negotiating powers. That is why airline management can push us around like they do. If we carried a big gun in our belt (read: ability to strike) we wouldn't be pushed around. Wouldn't it be wonderfull if you could "set the brake" the next time your airline furloughs out of seniority, stalls you contract negotiations or worse?

Airline Pilots continue to work under deteriorating conditions because they don’t have a choice. Their hands are tied under the Railway Labor Act. In practical terms, airline pilots cannot strike airline management is well aware of that. Therefore, in times of economic growth, it is in the best interest of the airline negotiators to stall and maintain status quo. It is near impossible to improve the overall conditions of the pilot groups because of the RLA. Major changes happen when people die in plane crashes but not when pilots forewarn about unacceptable conditions. Compared to other economically unregulated industries that are covered by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), the employees of the airline industry have very little leverage. The RLA prevents employees from engaging in self help, carries no provisions for unfair labor practices, and contracts have no set expiration dates. These three major differences cause unionized airline employees to be at an unfair disadvantage when compared to the rest of the population. In addition, the “fly now grieve later” rule allows the schedulers to force pilots to complete tasks that may be against their contract.

The effects of the RLA became particularly obvious after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 where pilot groups accepted supposedly temporary pay cuts to keep their companies in business. In the subsequent years, airlines became profitable, however, the pilot groups did not have enough leverage to regain any lost territory in a timely fashion. Before any progress was made, the economic cycle had turned around and threats of furloughs and additional outsourcing to cheaper subcontractors deterred further progress in negotiation.

The restricting elements of the RLA, preventing pilot groups from engaging in self-help need to be amended to reflect those of the NRLA. An even better solution would be to free the airline employees from the RLA altogether and treat the airline industry as the deregulated industry it is and place it under the laws of the NRLA. If the government sees a need to use aviation as a public utility, it should be completely regulated and subsidized as such. Otherwise, aviation should be treated as an industry in its own right and unionized airline employees should have the same self-help rights as the majority of the population. Release the airline employees from the Railway Labor Act.