Originally Posted by
sailingfun
It appears from this thread that some pilots believe that the unions control the seniority list and can merge them at will. That is not true. The seniority list is maintained and controlled by the company. In addition the RLA act forbids many of the things pilots think the unions should do. As a example you can't link negotiations between to different contracts. APA has found out first hand what happens when you mess with the RLA and a judge.
Not entirely true.... one of the USAir express carriers was recently workig on their contract and had representatives of the other express carriers at the table with them...
and there is nothing that says the APA couldn't take a short term status quo contract to get through the recession, and have it end at the same time Eagles ends...
are there some prohibitions; yes... but nothing as bad as you would lead people to think.