Just for the edification of those who don't know their airline history well enough be advised that it wasn't too long ago that people posted illegal job action ideas on a UAL pilot forum and those people were taken to court by United management and lost their jobs (I'm happy to report they ultimately got their jobs back, but they were in fact out of work for some time).

In any case the RLA is quite specific in what labor unions can and can not do and when they can and can not do certain things. Right now no pilot group is any where close to being allowed a "job action". So . . . anyone at a major airline today who is dissatisfied with the current state of affairs MUST stay within the confines of their current contract.

If this story is news to you as a pilot, try talking to those of us who have been around awhile to better understand the current process and where we are in said process. We are not helpless, but illegal job actions are silly ideas and not helpful.

 

If there are serious doubts that the feds would let a legacy airline strike, what are the odds they would let 2 strike at the same time? It's not gonna happen.

 

It would be great to see a thousand or so pilots in uniform sitting on the capital steps being arrested one by one and then doing a perp walk. If my criminal record said felony for not going to work, that would be a badge of honor. These things tend to clear up and be forgiven when all is said and done. Oh no! Now I'm a target for thinking out loud.


Good luck to us all, wish it could happen.

 

What he said. Don’t do, post, say stupid things.

Fly the contract.

 

Yes you could be. As Sunvox said, learn from history. The 4 that were made examples of and fired last time, UAL used examples posts from the forum at the time. Yes, UAL management reads and pays attention to these forums and notes the outliers. Be very careful when advocating anything related to the contract, or job actions. Forum posts were also used as evidence to get the injunction last time too.

 

Thank you. You are correct. Been there and done that.

 

Yes, but since when is flying professional, flying safe, and flying the contract a job action? Just do your job and no one elses...

 

When the voluminous amount of metrics kept on us or stupid things said that violate the status quo say otherwise. Then you shop a judge until one agrees with the finger pointed at you.

 

Its not defeatism. It’s called reality. I understand the whole process quite well. No administration will allow any major airline to strike.

Also one more thing to put into the calculus is public opinion. Remember all that CARES Act $$$$. How do you think Joe Q Public will process pilots striking after receiving BILLIONS in government $$$.

 

Eh. 2024 isn't looking to hot for the Democrats. Odds are that they won't want to alienate a generally loyal base in organized labor by not releasing a significant party if it's warranted at that time.

It depends on who spins it better. Ticket prices are higher than they've been in a long time. Revenues are sound. Plus, ultimately, the airlines are the ones who floated by without having to make payroll every month. If that message wins out, then pilots get the better look.