Are Sympathy Strikes Legal?

[JetClipper]

ALPA, the IAM, and particularly the PFAA, have all contended that the Railway Labor Act allows them to conduct sympathy strikes, while Northwest continues to claim that union contracts forbid them. This begs the question; which takes precedence? The unions better make sure before conducting any job actions. If is the contract, it appears Northwest is serious about firing anyone that violates those terms.

 

[eolesen]

My opinion only.... RLA might permit sympathy strikes, but if the various labor units have agreed to a no strike/no lockout clause, the language in the contract would take precedence.

 

[pitguy]

They are legal, and the IAM will not support AMFA nor will the pilot group. The pilots have never really supported any one else and the IAM is upset with the mechanics leaving them and will not support them. Northwest is actively out seeking scabs to replace the mechanics if they strike. Northwest’s mechanics can have a successful strike if AMFA can keep its members out. The number one reason why a strike will be successfully if striking members are out over 'job preservation'. It does look like the flight attendants will support the mechanics picket line and they can not be forced back to work. That was done at US Air back in 1992 and there is now case history to help the flight attendants stay out with the mechanics. As a Northwest mechanic you have to decide what your goals are. The reality is you could push Northwest to go out of business. Odds are great they will at least go into chapter 11 reorganization bankruptcy. The republican courts and politicians are not on your side. No matter what you do you will come out losing. You have to decide which path is best. I always say it is better to die fighting on your feet than to die begging on your knees. No matter how you look at it is ugly. Best of luck to you all as I have been in your shoes. I will pray for you and your families.

 

[nwamalefa]

ALPA, the IAM, and particularly the PFAA, have all contended that the Railway Labor Act allows them to conduct sympathy strikes, while Northwest continues to claim that union contracts forbid them. This begs the question; which takes precedence? The unions better make sure before conducting any job actions. If is the contract, it appears Northwest is serious about firing anyone that violates those terms.

[post="286263"][/post]​

Our union, the PFAA just initiated a vote to stike to honor the mechanics strike if it happens. There is no clause in our contract prohibiting it. However, if we do not cross the picket line the company can use replacement flight attendants. Northwest can not fire us, but we will only be called back as vacancies open up in seniority order. The AMFA union has said if they do settle the contract they will nto go back to work until all union members on strike are called back to work. Yes we can strike, and yes we will keep our jobs, but at the same time it could be sometime until we are called back to work.

 

[TheDog2004]

If the flight attendants also strike then Northwest will have the opportunity to break two unions instead of one.

Why give them that chance?

 

[pitguy]

The flight attendants need the mechanics as much as the mechanics need the flight attendants. When you strike you need to be prepared to stay out on your own, but it is nice when another group joins you. That is what being union stands for. Reality is no matter what happens from here on out at Northwest employees will be losing. The only thing they can fight for is a little dignity.

 

[Bob Owens]

Our union, the PFAA just initiated a vote to stike to honor the mechanics strike if it happens.  There is no clause in our contract prohibiting it.  However, if we do not cross the picket line the company can use replacement flight attendants.  Northwest can not fire us, but we will only be called back as vacancies open up in seniority order.  The AMFA union has said if they do settle the contract they will nto go back to work until all union members on strike are called back to work.  Yes we can strike, and yes we will keep our jobs, but at the same time it could be sometime until we are called back to work.

[post="287233"][/post]​

Maybe not. Some of the airlines that already screwed over their workers are trying to get their layoffs back, many are not coming back.

By the way, I figure out that the loss in wages at AA due to the concession is the equivelent of working for free for two years. In other words if I was laid off for two years instead of taking a paycut I would be better off financially than taking the paycut because if I'm laid off I collect unemployment band could work another job until I got recalled.

 

[nwamalefa]

Maybe not. Some of the airlines that already screwed over their workers are trying to get their layoffs back, many are not coming back.

By the way, I figure out that the loss in wages at AA due to the concession is the equivelent of working for free for two years. In other words if I was laid off for two years instead of taking a paycut I would be better off financially than taking the paycut because if I'm laid off I collect unemployment band could work another job until I got recalled.

[post="287455"][/post]​

All of our flight attendants have been called back. It was a mandatory call back. We had around 700 on layoff. Around 300 came back. Those who did not come back are no longer considered employees. As of August 1st we do not have any flight attendants on furlough. In my earlier post I stated that if FA's strike, they will only be called back as a position opens up. I am not really sure about that though. I know that is what happened with TWA. I dont know it if will be the same or different with us.

 

[nwamalefa]

If the flight attendants also strike then Northwest will have the opportunity to break two unions instead of one.

Why give them that chance?

[post="287250"][/post]​

Here is my opinion. There are now around 10k flight attendants at work with NWA. We did honor the stike, and ALL of us went out on strike, NW does not have the manpower to fly. They only hired 1200 replacement flight attendants. It would take several months for them to hire, do a check of their history and train. Most likely they would be forced to liquidate. In that case it would be us breaking them.
I dont think that is going to happen. I really dont know if a stike will be authorized or not. Even if one is I dont see all of the flight attendants honoring it. I could be cleary wrong in this issue, but I see maybe a couple or serveral thousand picketing and the rest crossing the line. The reason is is that we all have our own agendas. There are people who fly 8 days a month, could be well set financially and if they crossed they might be forced to work different planes and routes they dont like. The more junior ones are the ones to most likely cross because they have less money, almost a 1000 I believe have came off of furlough from 2 years ago to the most recent being july 31st of this year. Those guys left what jobs they had, and I dont think they can afford to miss work. The other thing is if a lot of FA's go on stike, the junior ones will have somehting they never had before. They will be up in seniority and be able to pick routes, planes, and actaully hold a schedule for the month. They can pick international or domestic, do lead and end up with more money.
All of this is my opinion. We dont know if we are going to strike or not. I dont know how many people will honor the strike if we are authorized. These are my opinions and I am not saying whether it is right or wrong for an FA to cross the picket line. It is too soon for that. My point is if we all went on strike tomorrow the company would be finished. IF only several thousand walked then the union could be in trouble. IT really is hard to replace thousands of flight attendants. Who knows what is going to happen. I surly will be interesting, exciting, frustrating, and stressful during this month and the next couple of months dealing with a potential BK filing.