Internal strife at APA is nothing new, this has been going on for at least 25 years, starting with the 1983 agreement that introduced the dreaded "b-scale"

AAL management is more than pleased with what's going on for these reasons:

A: it's an election year for new APA NO's, and AA management realizes that a divided group make for easy pickin's (5 out of the last 6 contracts have been signed during APA election years).

B: the board runs the show--the by-laws state as much. The NO's execute board policy, and such has not been the case for the last two years.

C: Moreover, the "republic of APA", doesn't really need NO's, since the by-laws stipulate that the board sets policy and the NO's execute it.

The resolution is for the board to pick the NO's. Fine, NO's for the last 20 years have been nothing but a pain in the A++.

Personally, I don't think APA needs NO's. The board should elect a chairman and vice chairman of the board and the VP and secretary positions should be handled by staff--for which we pay good money for already.

This whole issue is nothing but a freak side show--keep your eye on the real issues.

[quote=Check Essential;744473]We shall see if the new "Democratic" NMB will declare an impasse.

quote]
Now that thar's funny!! Especially on an AA thread. The unions give the Dems. support/money. then get knee-capped when they strike, (AA F/A & Pilot strikes called off and made to take concessionary contracts) But, hey, theyre politicians...what did you expect?

The company's cried poor-mouth since the airline began, and it's their job to drive down costs. Isn't it the job of the union to "Aim High" and negotiate from there? Am I missing something? It may be an uphill battle in this economy, and maybe it's just better to delay negotiations until better times, then go for retro-pay.

[quote=NoStep;745234]Its entirely possible that the government will never allow another major airline strike. If that's the case, we need to find a new way to obtain the pay and benefits we deserve.

[quote=Check Essential;745399]+1

I couldn't agree more. Not sure how to get there from here, as the deck is clearly stacked against us, but we need to find a way. The current system is totally broken, at least from a labor perspective. It works quite well for management. :mad:

[quote=Pineapple Guy;745761]Not only management, but the American people too. Step back from your position as airline labor for a minute and look at what the RLA does for all of us. It gives us a stable, reliable, robust transportation system to feed our economy. Imagine if it didn't exist. Think of the costs to the consumer of the chaos caused by frequent transportation strikes. Think Italy in August.

So your right, even the Dems, as labor friendly as they are, may never allow an airline strike again. I think that our current strategy at DALPA is the answer to your question. By working with management to feed the Goose, we get even more golden eggs.