I find it quite interesting that ALPA represented carriers (and the pilot groups of these carriers) continue wasting time year after year in contract negotiations when nothing happens, while their Employeer (Airline) keeps dragging things out.

ASA: 5+ Years (Nothing to date)
Astar Air Cargo: 3 1/2 years (Nothing to date)
Trans States: 1 1/2 years (Nothing to date)
ComAir: 3+ years (back in 1999 received a deal LESS than what they were looking for after an 89 day strike)
MESA: What is their timeline going to be (3-4 years??)

The problem is, that the longer things take to negotiate, the more things are forgotten and the more things the pilot group becomes numb too. (Not management though) Thus, the pilot group will finally acquiesce for a pittance of what they originally were looking for because management can hold out longer when it comes to spending money. ( As a matter of fact, we all can hold out when it comes to spending more money for what we are getting now for less).

In addition, during LONG drawn out negotiations, the financial picture of the airline can change dramatically and even drastically. If an airline is successful and profitable, it is in their BEST interest to drag out negotiations until a down turn in business is foreseen, when they can say, "SEE" this is what we have Pilot Group, we really are not making money . . . so you better take this deal or none at all. The nature of the industry changes and so do the expectations of the pilot group.

There is no way negotiations should take more than 6 months. If they take longer than that, I believe a strike should be in order. It's best to strike when the company IS making money, because management's bonuses, profit sharing, salary, et el are tied into their salary.

In addition, the Airline when it's making money DOES have a way to avoid a potential loss of business. They will throw money at the problem. (The problem being, Pilot's Striking). This action by the airlines will diffuse the onset of a potential calamity in the short term.

When a company is in the financial doldrums, it is the worst time to strike because there IS no money to pay for increased salaries. Many times it is just easier for an airline (any business for that matter) to close its doors vs. deal with a union group that wants increased pay, QOL, better benefits, etc.

Hi Ellen What is your Point, this is OLD news..... I see you have identified problems, Are you doing anything to Make a change. I was just curious what airline do you fly for

Railway Labor Act







.

Ellen,

You seem fairly passionate about this subject and I sense a bit of a displeasure from you about ALPA(union) current actions or perceived inactions. You are just the person that ALPA and any other union pilot would want volunteering to make things better. I hope you can find the time to help make things better. There are so many out there nowadays that only see the problems but will do little to help fix things. You seem fired up. I am sure your local or national union members would like to hear from you and even ask that you help.

Good Luck,

Bears repeating.

Okey doke...It was a good Post (in that it might actually elicit purposeful thought - a rarity on this board), don't everybody jump on Ellen.

Remember - sometimes only the outsider has a clear, bias-free picture on what is going on "inside."

There is no clear, bias-free picture - "she" merely stated the obvious!

If you strike without being released by the NMB you violate the Railway Labor Act.

Echo, echo, echo... If only it we didn't have that NMB that had to tell us we could strike....

[QUOTE=TonyC;222575]Railway Labor Act


I've been citing that act since I started on here.
The biggest problem with the whole union/management deal is a trust issue. When things are good us as pilots want EVERYTHING. And when things go to s??? then management wants it all back. The solution is probably somewhere in between, but both our sides are too greedy/egotistic (maybe) to ever get there.