Repealing the RLA

fender_jag

fender_jag

Well-Known Member
Per @MikeD's simple request in a different thread, I am hoping to have a civil discussion about the move afoot to repeal the Railway Labor Act (here is the petition: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/repeal-railway-labor-act/T21Pxckm)

Assuming this act gains enough traction to be reviewed by the president's administration and is ultimately repealed, what would be the subsequent implications? I can understand the concern for a "threat to order" were a strike to occur in the future (travel delays, economic disruption, financial uncertainty, etc.) but also wonder if this potential near-term instability would be inevitable in order to improve wages and working conditions?
 
fender_jag said:
Per @MikeD's simple request in a different thread, I am hoping to have a civil discussion about the move afoot to repeal the Railway Labor Act (here is the petition: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/repeal-railway-labor-act/T21Pxckm)

Assuming this act gains enough traction to be reviewed by the president's administration and is ultimately repealed, what would be the subsequent implications? I can understand the concern for a "threat to order" were a strike to occur in the future (travel delays, economic disruption, financial uncertainty, etc.) but also wonder if this potential near-term instability would be inevitable in order to improve wages and working conditions?
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Have you done the research to understand what the difference is with and without the RLA? I can tell you this much, it would be disaster out for us if we repeal it. Yes, we might be able to strike at will but I am willing to bet there will be a carve out for that. How about having different seniority lists for every base? Those are some things to think about. The RLA is not a bad document stand alone. The miserable case law that has been attached to it over the past 15 years is the downfall.
 
Krieger said:
It's worth the sign up just to join the Deport Justin Beiber petition. Win Win
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They got the needed 100,000 signatures on the Beiber petition. At 260k and change right now. I can't wait to hear what the White Houses response is.
 
amorris311 said:
Have you done the research to understand what the difference is with and without the RLA? I can tell you this much, it would be disaster out for us if we repeal it. Yes, we might be able to strike at will but I am willing to bet there will be a carve out for that. How about having different seniority lists for every base? Those are some things to think about. The RLA is not a bad document stand alone. The miserable case law that has been attached to it over the past 15 years is the downfall.
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This.
 
amorris311 said:
Have you done the research to understand what the difference is with and without the RLA? I can tell you this much, it would be disaster out for us if we repeal it. Yes, we might be able to strike at will but I am willing to bet there will be a carve out for that. How about having different seniority lists for every base? Those are some things to think about. The RLA is not a bad document stand alone. The miserable case law that has been attached to it over the past 15 years is the downfall.
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Thanks for the reply. I'm looking over S.1327 right now (it would have required binding final-offer arbitration for unresolved collective bargaining disputes).

I like the idea of different seniority lists for each base.
 
jtrain609 said:
I don't know too much about the structure of our government, or the constitutionality of the President repealing legislation on his own...

But I'm pretty sure that's absolutely nothing the President can do about this one.
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Come on. You know he can lead legislation. Push for it. Use political capital, etc.
 
amorris311 said:
Have you done the research to understand what the difference is with and without the RLA? I can tell you this much, it would be disaster out for us if we repeal it. Yes, we might be able to strike at will but I am willing to bet there will be a carve out for that. How about having different seniority lists for every base? Those are some things to think about. The RLA is not a bad document stand alone. The miserable case law that has been attached to it over the past 15 years is the downfall.
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I feel like being able to strike without jumping through all the hoops that have to be jumped through now would be better for the industry - different seniority lists for different bases would not happen if the union did not agree to it.
 
This petition has ZERO potential to move forward.

The only thing this serves is to satisfy the emotional desire to feel like you are accomplishing something.

Changes of this magnitude come about through lobbying and deep interests, not grassroots petitioning.
 
Without the RLA you couldn't compel someone to be in the union or pay agency fees in right to work states. You couldn't compel the company to fire a delinquent member either.

Food for thought.
 
fender_jag said:
I like the idea of different seniority lists for each base.
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Can I ask why you like that idea? How many bases have opened and closed over the past 10 years? What would you do if say you were based in ATL for a large carrier and they felt you cost too much. They opened up a base similar in size in say MEM and you had to go there. Now you used to be a 777 captain but with this new base all you can hold in 737 FO on reserve. You still think it's a good idea?
 
ppragman said:
I feel like being able to strike without jumping through all the hoops that have to be jumped through now would be better for the industry - different seniority lists for different bases would not happen if the union did not agree to it.
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I agree with you on the striking. Also the union would agree to it but at what cost? What will you be willing to give up in order to achieve this? You do know the company understands they can drag their feet on this issue and not have to give anything up for you to waste all your capital on this issue.
 
fender_jag said:
Thanks for the reply. I'm looking over S.1327 right now (it would have required binding final-offer arbitration for unresolved collective bargaining disputes).

I like the idea of different seniority lists for each base.
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I think you misunderstand the issue.

The format Andrew is discussing would mean that you're hired at Skywest - SLC. In fact, think of it as a factory. If Skywest - DEN could do the work cheaper, then the company could come to you and say, "Hey, you'd better take pay cuts or we're gonna bring the Denver guys in to do your work for you, and we won't need your services anymore."

Different seniority lists, different contracts, different everything.

You think that'd be good? If you think the whipsaw is bad now, you haven't seen anything yet.
 
Seggy said:
The problem isn't with the RLA. The problem is pilots keep voting for Republicans who nominate their friends to the NMB who don't properly enforce the RLA.

It really is that simple.
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It's amazing how many people don't get this... You can't be a mainstream Republican supporter and pro union at the same time, it's a total conflict of interest.
 
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