Originally Posted by
JetDaily
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.
First of all, don't patronize me with "you still see it as us vs. them, which is sad". You claim to be so knowledgeable about all things UAL, though you haven't found the courage to explain to all of us why your opinion is so much more enlightened than those of us who actually work there, so you should know perfectly well that the CEO's of United ALWAYS run the same play. They come in and give the standard "we must look forward and forget the past by working together to achieve our goals". Then they immediately shrink the airline and come up with uplifting lines like "pilot morale is not my problem". Sound familiar? This while giving themselves industry leading fat contracts.
Explain to me how UAL gets a single operating certificate without a combined seniority list. Explain to me how UAL gets a combined seniority list without a contract. Sounds like control of the process to me!
A few things. Scope relaxation? Like... 90 seaters? Ha!! Good luck!!
Second. You are still on the productivity of the senior pilots vs the junior pilots? That is almost a non issue to UAL. They don't care WHO has to do the heavy lifting as long as the line average ends up where they want it to be. The PILOTS are the ones who have to deal with the senior vs junior question. It's a piece of the puzzle, but not a terribly large one right now around the line since the last TA passed that tightened the PBS line values.
Your PS makes no sense. You are combining apples and oranges. The injunction prohibits ALPA from doing anything illegal. It does not change the RLA. If the NMB, with it's labor friendly new makeup, determines that an impasse has been reached, they can start the cooling off period. That has NOTHING to do with the injunction. When the cooling off period is finished, a PEB will decide whether a strike is allowed or not. That has nothing to do with the NMB OR the injunction. The injunction is simply not part of that process provided legal channels are followed. Whether the PEB would allow a strike is a much fuzzier question, but I haven't disputed that.
You think management wants to grow and dominate. I hope you are correct, but experience tells me you won't be. Outgoing UAL management, some of whom (McDonald) are still there, obviously didn't have that goal. Continental management was pretty much unwilling to negotiate with their pilots in any meaningful way prior to the merger. Now the are at the table fully engaged. Why? Because we now have something they want....
Your dislike of pilots and ALPA tells me that you couldn't possibly be one; unless I suppose you were hired in 1985. Then your attitude would make sense. As your tagline is "Sitting in the back facing front", I'm assuming you aren't a pilot.... Or at least any more. From someone who is sitting up FRONT keeping you safe in the back, your constant arrogant and snide remarks about the union that protects my family and livelihood are offensive. I certainly don't come to YOUR house and make cracks about your family. That's how it feels when you trash my brothers and sisters.