I'm sure that's exactly how it went down

 

Any leverage we’ve ever had in mediation/arbitration pales in comparison to the pressure we can apply as a coordinated union flying the line every day. Every time the company shows their hand violating the spirit of our PWA, we collectively and individually need to refocus on flying the contract. Rest the contract. Fatigue the contract. Sick the contract. PA the contract. NPS the contract. Prioritize safety. Stay in your lane.

No, I’m not advocating anyone do anything nefarious. Just stop doing favors you’re not paid for, stop doing any jobs Delta is already paying someone else to do, do not accept personal liability in any form to keep the operation on schedule or minimize company costs and don’t look the other way when some other work group cuts inappropriate corners. We have a PWA that defines what we’re to do, and unlike the company, we should follow it explicitly.

Delta prides themselves on how much revenue overselling generates (three to one over the costs to buy people off). The fact that they are unwilling to eat the minuscule cost THAT THEY AGREED TO to get someone home after they saved their operation during reroute tells me one thing. Whomever chose this issue to cheat on…doesn’t understand or appreciate the autonomy the pilot group has at this job, nor the collective power we have when 17,000 of us work together.

 

And the status quo is being set now outside sect. 6. This is the baseline we will be compared to and we will be enjoined to maintain as the next negotiation stretches for years. The company will refuse to negotiate in good faith in a timely manner to use the RLA to stagnate pay and frustrate the pilot group. Hold on, the roller coaster is nearing the top of the hill.

 

Perhaps a decent equvilent to small/overpaid (*) but still powerful as a private sector union would be the International Longshoreman's Association which went on strike for three days last October.

While I'd argue that the Ds are now catering primarily to groups other than private sector unions (but won't argue it here), the Pres at the time refused to intervene.

A big deal, because the ILA ran 36 ports and nearly half of all US imports.

At the end of the day, unions aren't about being nice. They're about leveraging niche, hard to replace workers and bargining hard.

(*) - overpaid compared to pilots at other airlines all over the planet. We're extremely well compensated. Longshoremen are the same way. It's a great gig.

 

the dude that told me this is left of left soI doubt he has reason to lie?

 

He probably didn't lie, but I guarantee it wasn't that simple.

 

Correct, and when the President does become directly involved, refer to Clinton’s actions during the 1997 AA pilots’ strike for an example of what to expect from either party. Particularly in the post-consolidation era.

Yes, amendable is the technically correct term. Saying it doesn’t lessen the sting of working under ancient pay rates / work rules with no practical support from either party. Been there, done that.

 

in more ways than one Clinton was the last great Republican President.

 

This is laughable. He ostracized his own brother for becoming an airline pilot. You really think he GAS about us?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Trump_Jr.

 

Just thinking about not having a flight home after a reroute is making me tired.