And that's the bigger reason why we shouldn't have stopped the picket, in my opinion. We need to demonstrate that we act on principles and not just the cost/benefit analysis of the time. We are far stronger as a union acting on principles because then the enemy will fear reprocussions more often. Right now they are only motivated if their manipulation of pay, contract language, and timing is unpopular. In a very real sense, they are 100% in control and we are merely reacting to it. This is the fatal flaw of the Vietnam style escalation strategy. You want overwhelming defeat, not just enough to accomplish an immediate objective.

The bigger game is to change the RLA and to show that we are principled force willing to use our weapons of war. You can't negotiate with a bully unless you give them a good punch in the face first. In order for us to be a market force, we must demonstrate principled action that becomes too costly for an airline to engage with. Look at the backlash companies like Starbucks get because a guy got kicked out.. now they opened the bathrooms to everyone. They rather not engage people because they realized the cost is too high. That is the position we must put ourselves in not just to straighten out BJ but also the industry.


This communique is for entertainment purposes only. It does not implicitly or explicitly acknowledge employment with any air carrier nor is any relationship implied. This communique does not represent the opinions or policies of ALPA or JB ALPA and does not represent the collective pilot group, ALPA, nor does it imply collective bargaining, advocacy, or workforce actions intended to disrupt operations.

We do have carrots to give. Our ability to go beyond the scope of our PEA duties in order to smooth out day to day ops, and engage the customers (ie standups) among other things. Notice I didnt mention cleaning.

I look at DAL as the model we should be emulating. DAL has buy in from its pilots. It has purchased this good will with consistent industry leading pay and benefits.

No doubt those guys hold the company to account with CBA violations, and even *gasp* vote down unacceptable TAs.

They also do stand ups, single engine taxi, pickup open time (for double pay) and go the extra mile to get the metal moving.

Its a balance.

And at what point is it being an enabler? For example, I'm not going to compromise safety by delaying writeups the way it's been for years. they're questioning people's writeups now even though they should have been all along. we should never do more than SOP. doing more just makes you part of the problem.



I don't like this idea of balance because that is what got us to this point since day 1.





This communique is for entertainment purposes only. It does not implicitly or explicitly acknowledge employment with any air carrier nor is any relationship implied. This communique does not represent the opinions or policies of ALPA or JB ALPA and does not represent the collective pilot group, ALPA, nor does it imply collective bargaining, advocacy, or workforce actions intended to disrupt operations.

Yes, well said and I haven’t really seen any good counter arguments on here to this line of thought. BUT, as always, standing by for MEC guidance. At the very least, for now, I’m just glad to have one extra day freed up this month….

The company knows how much we pull the rope that makes this machine go. That’s our carrot. We don’t need to dangle anything. They burned the bridge not us. It’s now their job to bring us back into the fold. Simply having an agreement that is unknown does not fix anything. One announcement of perceived good will does not fix a decade of deceits.

Read up on fedex and their first contract.

I’m cautiously optimistic because I know our N.C. is too knotch, but stay frosty. This fight may not be over and you never quit in sight of the goal line.

The RLA isn't going anywhere in the essential transportation business. Well, not until pilots go away.

That’s fine but my point remains, the RLA is the biggest “check” on pilot union power.

Them's the rules. Work within them or frustrate yourself into eternal bitterness.

Amen ! There is plenty of other stuff to worry about that you can actually do something about.

Holy crap is sanity finally returning to this forum!?