Originally Posted by olly

The decline of unions over the last 60 years is a function of many factors, the Taft- Hartley Act (written by Rs), globalization, migrating jobs, declining industries where unions were big (textiles, steel) moving from manufacturing to services, increasing number of right to work states, offshoring, deregulation and union-busting tactics.

I believe you need to study some history if you want the facts.

I'm not your history professor, but even a shallow google search will document the politics, legislation, and studies that show all the above true.

Not sure what you mean by "the promise"- if you're refering to a notion that a monolithic support for one party will bring nirvana, and change the balance of power to unions, we know that will never happen.

However it is well documented which party supports corporations over labor. It also is not monolithic, but easily categorized by the majority of legislation, or lack of enforcement.

The "tale" I have told is true. You can trace who crafted what legislation- sometimes they even use their names- such as the Taft Hartley act- google it read it, and note what it did and who wrote it. After a while you may even notice a trend....

As far as the "myth" of political alignment-helping or hindering our industry- there is a plethora of "facts" that show that for the, most part, one party helps, and for the most part, the other hinders.

Here are three Facts- that show alignment that were pro pilot during that era, take the 1948 Presidental election year and these issues. President Truman's Daughter's fiance was killed in a DC-6. He then created a Presidental Commission to study crewing which led to the Second Officer on all aircraft weighing more than 70,000 lbs.

Truman created another Presidental Commission that year to study the National Airlines strike and the the commission heavily favored labor with all of the striking pilots put back to work in seniority order. G. T. Baker told the President to go jump in the lake because he thought Dewey would win. After the election, Truman started the de-certification process for National Airline. Suddenly, Baker said Uncle. All the strikers went back to work immediately and Baker never had a strike again with scabs.

Then there was the TWA strike in 1948 where with another Presidental Commission on pay for added productivity (Gross Weight), again Truman loaded the Commission and we got Gross Weight pay in addition to speed pay.

I would like to hear your facts that "it does not". Can you list three facts of federal policy or legislation enacted by the R's that have directly and unequivocally affected us in the positive?

I guess it may be one sided in that fact that I actually watched Bush II state that "there will NO strikes on my watch". Perhaps it was one sided that I sat in the Chicago courtroom and watched the decimation of my livlelihood.

Perhaps you are unaware of who appoints members to the NMB.

There is no "promise" to be delivered, or saviour, only the solcitation for "influence" to enact or enforce policy that effects us in the positive. I do agree it is not monolithic, but in general- there has been very clear lines- the "facts" are there you just need to do some honest research.