The Railway Labor Act (RLA) makes working for an airline (or railroad) significantly different than working in other industries as the federal rules governing your employment are quite different.
The RLA was originally designed to prevent strikes or lock-outs which would disrupt the country's transportation system. First railroads, then later airlines. The RLA prohibits covered labor groups from striking, and employers from locking-out covered labor groups, without first proceeding through a complex process which involves the National Mediation Board (NMB). Both labor and employers are required to maintain Status Quo during the process so employer's can not change work rules outside of the process.
The goal is to avoid disruptions in the transportation system and, for the most part, it does that. It also produces situations that don't make a lot of sense when viewed from the outside without any context or understanding of the RLA.....
"The goal is to avoid disruptions in the transportation system and, for the most part, it does that."
Which is why my union, IBEW Local-3, couldn't strike.
My trade is a pilot. I do not have another, just as a plumber is not an electrician.
It’s not easy to learn to another skill set in your 50’s.. then progress to make what you make now.
Your thoughts, while sound terrific, are just not real world for the professional aviator.
Stick with your company and fight for a good contract is clearly the best route for most in my position.
As an industrial electrician in my 50's, I couldn't agree more. Government (bi-state) employee here with over 30 years in the transportation industry (Airports, seaports, bridges, tunnels and terminals) in the NY metro area. JFK-EWR-LGA, etc.
My wife and I both have over 60 years combined in the agency (35 and 33 respectively). She's on the operations side of things, I'm on the maintenance side (our guys maintain the runways and keep them lit for you guys to safely operate from
). In 2000 I got promoted to Electrical Systems Controller (13KV, 480/277V systems), so I no longer get my hands dirty in the field, but I sure miss working on the runway/taxiway lighting, signs and visiting the control towers which we also maintained. On the other hand, it's nice to be in an air conditioned (and warm) Control Room, watching TV during extreme summer heat and frigid winter temps.
However, there are only 12 Systems Controller positions and we have over 200 electricians, so most of us are in the field dealing with the harsh weather conditions to keep transportation flowing and things moving smoothly.
After over a decade of negotiations (12 years-my union IBEW, 11 years-wife's), we've finally reached an agreement and recently voted to ratify new contracts. The agency (with the help of the newly appointed NJ Governor) actually offered us a deal that we
couldn't refuse this time. Now they're in the process of finalizing everything. In addition to our new pay rates, we will have to pay a little into our healthcare plan, which until now, we paid only a small co-pay for doctor visits and medicine. Those of us who retire before 2022 will not be required to contribute into our pension plans. That changes things for the new employees and those with only a few years in, but we all had certain aspects of the existing contracts that we weren't too happy with when we were hired. That's just how it is.
Now the accountants are busy crunching the numbers determining the amounts of our retro checks.
Yes, it would have been better to have a decent contract years ago to match the cost of living increases, but with our seniority and retirement in a couple of years, it's money in the bank. So in the long run, I'm glad we stuck it out. Could I have gone elsewhere after the last contract expired in 2006, sure, but I wasn't about to give up my years of seniority and position to start over at the bottom of some other company. Neither was my wife.
Plus I hate plumbing work
