PCL_128

Not at all. I was discussing the general right to strike. Carl didn't specifically refer to Delta. He was just talking about the right to strike in general.

But I disagree with your assumption that DAL wouldn't be allowed to strike. Why do you assume that that would be the case? If DALPA is making reasonable demands that the company can afford, and the the company is refusing to play ball, then I don't doubt that the NMB will release you. But if you make crazy demands that the company can't possibly afford without slipping into bankruptcy, then the NMB will sit on your case indefinitely, just as they've done with the APA's case. The NMB looks for resolutions to disputes. If they believe that a release will get to a resolution, then that's what they'll do. If they think that a release will not lead to a resolution, then that's not what they'll do. All they care about is finding the quickest path to a resolved dispute.

80ktsClamp

I've known PCL for quite a few years and know he is a very nice guy, but when he says stuff like that about the strikes.. it's laughable.

When this administration took office he touted how we would all be able to strike and had a true friend in office... towing the line of the union as usual. As usual, this was wrong and always will be.

80ktsClamp

You know better than this... there is not a chance in heck DAL will be allowed to strike.

tsquare

THIS^^ PCL is delusional if he really believes otherwise

newKnow

United, Continental pilots picketing over outsourcing
Denver Business Journal - by Houston Business Journal
Date: Monday, November 22, 2010, 5:54am MST

Pilots of United Airlines and Continental Airlines, represented by Air Line Pilots Association International, say they will conduct informational picketing in three cities over the next several days.

The pilots say they will picket in Newark, N.J., and Houston, the site of major Continental Airlines hubs, on Monday and Tuesday and in Chicago, United's corporate headquarters, on Dec. 1.

The pilots said they are picketing to reaffirm their stance against management’s plans to continue and expand the practice of outsourcing flying to other airlines. The airline intends to use the CO code on flights from Continental hubs, using outsourced 70-seat jets, a practice the union believes is in violation of the Continental pilots’ current contract.

“The pilots of Continental and United are unified on the issue of protecting the jobs of our pilots, and to stop the outsourcing of our flying,” said Capt. Jay Pierce, chairman of the Continental pilots unit of ALPA, in a statement. “We have no reservations about using the full range of legal methods available to bring resolution to this issue and ultimately prevent the outsourcing that we strongly believe violates the Continental pilots’ contract.”

Capt. Wendy Morse, chairman of the United unit of ALPA, said negotiations over the outsourcing issue are critical to the conclusion of collective bargaining related to the merger of the two airlines.

“The sooner management abandons its practice of outsourcing our flying, the sooner United will reap the rewards this merger was promised to bring,” she said.

United and Continental merged Oct. 1 and are now both affiliates of Chicago-based United Continental Holdings Inc. (NYSE: UAL). The airlines are gradually being consolidated and eventually wil fly as one airline under the United name.

United Continental Holdings hopes to have new collective-bargaining agreements in place with the airlines' various unions by the end of 2011.

United is the largest airline at Denver International Airpor


Read more: United, Continental pilots picketing over outsourcing | Denver Business Journal

PCL_128

I don't agree. Now, if you go in demanding "full restoration" on date of signing and refuse to budge, then yeah, you're absolutely right that the NMB won't release you to strike, because Delta can't afford to pay $2 billion in improvements in the first year. But if you go in with something that the company can afford, then it benefits the NMB to provide a release if negotiations don't produce an agreement, because a release will almost certainly lead to a TA, and that clears a high profile case off of the NMB's docket and makes them look like heroes.

tsquare

No.. it will make them look like idiots when DAL goes on strike and shuts the economy down. Weren't you paying attention in 2001?

80ktsClamp

So what happened at Pinnacle? They sure as heck haven't been released...

What can the company afford? You're in a complete dreamworld if you think that the NMB is going to release an airline of our size into self help....

Carl Spackler

They are not. I've never seen anything other than advice to ensure litigation never happens. Now ALPA certainly does a lot of litigation, but it's mostly because they have to...because they are being sued.

The old ALPA has. The new ALPA is all about politics and ensuring their own survival. Witness the litany of comments from ALPA types like yourself using the NMB as the excuse as to why we can't expect very much anymore.

There is nothing about APA's demands that are so outlandish that management couldn't possibly agree to them. They are demanding restoration of what they had years ago - when revenue was strong like it is today. The difference today is that AMR has found a way to use the NMB to block APA's right to strike. This kind of historic abuse must be dealt with. Just like Frank Lorenzo's historic abuse of the bankrupcy laws at Continental Airlines - the laws were changed when congress realized what Frank was doing. But that was back when ALPA wasn't afraid to be a warrior organization. Today's ALPA just wants to get along with DC at all costs.

Carl

Carl Spackler

What an ignorant slur of the work done by APA thus far. APA's demands are not crazy. Just because you and AMR management think so, doesn't make it so. They're demanding restoration due to their huge givebacks outside of BK. AMR's revenue stream is back to being strong as is the case with all the majors. AMR has found a way to use the NMB to do their work for them.

Carl