HercDriver130

Even before these latest appointments ... the NMB was not inclined to release. K4 had 6 years of negotiations and the NMB told them to get it done... because there was no alternative....and that was with three Dems on the board.

atpcliff

The NMB's main goal, is to flow more money into the pockets of the 0.1% at an ever-increasing rate.

I think the Dems are marginally less corrupt than the Reps.

When the US had the most workers in unions, we had the most "level" salaries across the board. Since Reagan took over, it has been more and more money flowing to the 0.1%.

With Goldman Sachs being the Treasury Secretary, for EVERY president starting with Reagan, don't expect any big changes in the money flow to the top.

Cujo665

I deleted it. Didn't want to wade into the argument at the time.

Having sat on the board of directors at a major US pilot union I can say beyond a doubt the system is stacked against us and designed to keep metal moving.

Do the large unions have our best interest at heart? Maybe....

Example. I sat on the BOD national legislative affairs committee. The agenda items submitted to the Board of Directors by upper union management had 4 items on it to designate as national priorities. All four were crap.
I drafted and lobbied with the Delta, United and a FedEx guy to get 2 agenda items added to the meeting to include and make national priorities.

One was to defend the 1500 hour rule; the other was to modernize the RLA commensurate with modern business practices.

On the first one it was me, Delta, United and FedEx explaining to Mesa, PDT and PSA why defending the 1500 hour rule was important. They were complaining that they couldn't get enough pilots and it was slowing down upgrades. Two hours later the agenda item passed, was later sent to the full floor, and is now a national and PAC priority. Yep, that was me.

The other triggered a two hour onslaught of a procession of union lawyers each explaining why they didn't want to touch the RLA. The short version is They're afraid if we touch it, management will too.

In other words, not willing to fight to fix the rigged system. Content to take 1.8% from everybody while their national secretaries are paid better than many regional captains....

But I digress.....
see what you started.....

You guys still hiring? Somebody PM an email or contact there please. My app is sitting there dormant.

atpcliff

Very interesting example of how corruption can occur in any organization... Not just businesses or governments...

whalesurfer

Glad I (we) did. Good insight perspective.

whalesurfer

Agree!

.

Cujo665

Point being that is isn't a D vs R thing. It's the establishment. Their politicians - on either side - are bought and paid for. All these things like RLA mediation, status-quo, expedited arbitration, NMB and everything else are tools used to roadblock any meaningful change and to prevent real strikes.

Spirit wasn't a real strike. At the time they were smaller than many regionals in total operations, but operated larger planes. They weren't a feeder for any legacy. They weren't a global airline. In short, allowing them to strike didn't effect the economy, and it allowed the national unions the ability to point and say, "see, we can do it when needed."

At the national level our unions are more concerned about large value lawsuits and protecting themselves than in fighting - really fighting - for their members. Those days - they write books about - are long gone. Airline unions in the US are paper tigers. So long as you understand their limitations, they're better than nothing.