Things are happening at AA that may require the support of all pilots in the near future. Please remember that what they are doing is for the profession, not just for AA pilots. If nececessary, please support them any and every way possible.

 

Sounds mysterious.

You can count on Comair's support. For the next 12 days, anyway.

 

Ever since Ronny Reagan fired all the Air Traffic Controllers, there has been an ongoing 'war on orangaized labor' in DC. No matter which party is in power. Where was the ALPA outrage, and SOS when Lorenzo took Eastern apart? Or when the B scales came into being? Or on the RJ front, or on the Age 65 issue?

Today's CEO's know they'll get no pushback from the Wh0res in DC, who's votes they've already bought and paid for.

It takes a lot of money to get re-elected to Congress/Senate/POTUS, where do you think that money comes from?

Not from Oraganized Labor. We are screwed, long term. It's just a matter of how long it will take to train up our Asian replacments.

Think it can't happen?

Ask anyone who used to be in the Textiles or US Auto or Steel industry where their manufacturing jobs went.

The only people in DC we have protecting our jobs today (ironically), are at the FAA and NTSB.

 

There are other ways to support besides an SOS/sympathy strike. At the very least, pushing to keep the JS (even if just in the cabin) can go a long way. Offering buddy passes, even offering to pay the fee for them in extreme cases, as well as offering places to stay and rides for stranded pilots, etc, are an absolute bare bones minimum other pilot groups can do. Depending on the circumstances, and even though it is a "different union", I'd even be willing to pay an assessment and certainlly would contribute to their emergency family fund or whatever.

Honestly, we can't afford not to. If they are gutted in such a way that turns them into a top 3 scopeless B scale outsource machine, every section 6 from now on will have to compete with that. We can wax over the woes of not being in a "true trade union" all we want, but soon may not be the time to be barfing 50K per kid per year on worthless degrees in feelings and culture with zero ROI ever while pretenting we can't afford 50 or 100 bucks a month, or worse...pretending its not our fight, for an effort with an outcome that has more to directly do with us and our family finances in the short and medium term than just about anything else.

 

To expand on, or be argumentative depending on your Guinness count, Timbo's comments.

The "war on organized labor" has really been directed at private sector organized labor. The public sector unions wield huge power now while private sector labor mostly gets lip service. Look at the Chicago teacher's union strike--the highest profile strike in years. Apparently, it is unlawful in Illinois, but not only will they get most of their demands according to the news, they won't pay a red cent in fines. If APA went out illegally, or legally, President Obama or President Romney would sign a PEB and order them back to work before I could say, "I'll have another Guinness". I attribute that to the lack of any private sector experience in present day politics; the shrinking size of private sector unions and the economy. The UAW has some power, as demonstrated by the auto bailouts, but that is certainly a special case with politics way beyond the UAW.

Second, the inflation of the 70's and early 80's combined with deregulation (sponsored by Sen Kennedy and Pres Carter, btw) really clobbered real wages. When I grew up in Fairfield County, CT, airline pilots lived in Greenwich and Ridgefield. Towns out of question for today's pilots. Money income has shifted dramatically in the last 3 decades.

Third, airline pilots have little of what economists call "scarcity power". Once, you had to be ex-military, under 30, in perfect health and fit a certain picture to be hired. Seventy percent or greater ex-military was the common new-hire class profile. This put some limits on hiring and getting replacement pilots. Lorenzo was ruthless in finding the limits on hiring. Speaking of profiles, how about the hiring standards for "stewardesses" back in the day; think they are coming back anytime soon.

Now, it's open season to be an airline pilot. Elsewhere here, there is a 30-year old female, school teacher who wants to break into the airlines. Nothing wrong with that, but as a fact, in 1975 the very idea would have been laughed out of a cocktail party, let alone considered seriously. Let alone hiring retired military (never hired before age discrimination suits), pilots who couldn't pass an astronaut physical (ADA); or those who couldn't impress a shrink with their human reliability. The greatly increased supply of potential airline pilots combined with management's willingness or compunction to hire anyone has reduced the bargaining power of pilots, union or not.

GF

 

Don't forget the merchant marine fleet. Seen any ships with US flags lately? That could be the US airlines next

 

Great post gloopy. I ageee 100%. If AMR has their way on scope the result will be more outsourcing at every other company begining with the very next contract cycle. Maybe sooner if anyone is inclined to follow the AMR model of abrogation via premature bankruptcy. Imo once this industry becomes so fragmented with dozens of "*operated by:" carriers we will no longer be able to make a unified stand against anything. And help doesnt seem to be coming from the current "labor friendly" nmb either... If the pilots at AA decide to take a stand on this one I also would happily contribute to the APA emergency fund and support them in every way possible.

 

Asian replacements?!

You guys clearly aren't paying any attention to what's really going on elsewhere in the world relating to the pilot profession, are ya?

 

Yes, because clearly they have an ample pilot supply over there!!

 

Yea John, the Asians have just one problem; they can't speak Level 6 English.