Originally Posted by
gettinbumped
The NMB has a critically different makeup than it did in 2007/2008. The tide has turned for labor with the current group. The injunction doesn't matter a whit in this discussion. Nobody is talking about doing anything illegal. What the PEB does is another story. Predictions of their actions are just that.... Predictions.
It's not going to get that far in my opinion anyway. We (finally) have something they want..... Control over their ability to get a single operating certificate and merger synergy. It's going to cost them, and they know it. It is time for some restitution, and that is fair and reasonable. Even USAirways has figured out that operating as 2 groups is less cost effective than just compensating the employees correctly.
No, we're not talking about anything illegal. We are talking about the ability of UAL pilots to strike. It just won't happen. I couldn't disagree more about having control over the company. UAL Pilots have "NO" control over the company WRT the SOC. They have some
leverage, but that's about it. If they squander that it'll be very sad, indeed. I honestly believe that UAL management wants to mend fences and get the company headed down the path to dominance in the airline world. They stand to gain nothing from a long protracted fight with ALPA. Besides, they already have the upper hand that ALPA has given them via the legal suit and subsequent injunction. The fight is over and ALPA LOST, therefore the UAL Pilots lost. Sad.
They (UAL management) really DO see the CA$H opportunities from the merger and they are ENORMOUS. However, I'm not so naive as to think they will just give away the store and let the MEC roll over them. They are going to demand some movement on scope AND improvement in productivity from the SENIOR bubbas, many of whom drop way down in their monthly skeds at the expense of the lowly junior pukes who are left holding the bag.
"Tide turning for labor?" You're stilling looking at this as an "us vs. them" situation. That's unfortunate.
Best -
JD
p.s. The injunction
does matter in the discussion of whether the UAL pilots will be able to strike. And, the NMB make-up is largely irrelevant. A pilot workforce of nearly 13,000 pilots at the world's largest airline will
NEVER be allowed to strike.