Originally Posted by
jsled
Who's ignorant? UAL just got huge alright. About 20% smaller than in 2001!! Thats right. UAL is smaller now - with CAL - Than 9 years ago. AMR F/As and NWA Pilots both were allowed to strike in the 1990s. AMR was bigger then, than now. So it has EVERYTHING to do with the Pres., and the NMB members that he appoints. Saying that a strike is off the table is just not true. Certainly not "ignorant".
Yes, United was big in 2001, but not this big. United did NOT have near this many planes, pilots, FAs or other employee groups. Sorry, the numbers just don't bear that out. I believe the number of pilots only reached as high as 11,000 and the number of planes about 650, or so, back in 2000/01. United now has over 12,500 pilots and about 700 mainline airframes.
Skippy is EXACTLY right. United Pilots will NEVER be allowed to strike for two reasons. First, it is almost inconceiveable that the United MEC would be released from mediation by NMB to begin a cooling off period after having broken the law so blatantly by their actions in 2007/08 and their subsequent preliminary injunction handed down by Judge Lefkow (and STONGLY upheld by the appelate court judge). Yes, that injunction is STILL in full force and effect indefinitely.
Second, the PEB that would be convened (regardless of which party was occupying the Oval Office) would instruct the parties to "return to the table" until an agreement had been reached. No sitting president would, in his/her right mind, allow an airline the size of the new United to stop flying, especially in light of the volatile nature and fragility of today's economy.
It's just not going to happen, IMHO.
JD