Yup! She's just nothing short of awesome!
She attended the Aviation forum last year in Vegas representing Labor legal in BK, and was part of the "debate" with the aviation kings. She is one impressive lady!
She also did an outstanding job for the IAM in the BK court proceedings.
Sharon Levine is part of the system that failed. She had a short leash placed on her by the IAM INTL, who fed her firm. In essance, she was the face of the IAM and it became Jerry GLass against Sharon Levine....both of them won. Glass for your company, and Levine did a masterful job for the IAM, not the workers. The workers lost.
I was part of meetings in which her legal opinion was needed to unpack the members right to strike in case there was a vote down of a contract. She chose not to give equal time to that side of an opinion but instead 'towed' the INTL union line that if a contract is voted down then the members will be without a agreement and management could make things worse. Never once did she give legal opinion on the legal positions that could the members and the union could take given a TA rejection.
Make no mistake, she recommended and towed the Bargaining Agents positon. To be sure, during the 3 rounds of concessions, there were times when the IAM/Levine 'on paper' were neutral, but the bottom line was their persuasion was towards an acceptance of an unfair TA without a rank and file fight.
OTOH, I believe the FA at NW have positioned themselves against the position of the Sharon Levine's and other big business attorneys of this world. In essance, there is no reason in the world for the FA to accept the present greed at NW which limits any returns for the FA when the airline emerges from BK.
At any rate, this whole situation is about investment. NW got what they wanted in a imposed contract but can do nothing to secure the billions of dollars it still needs for exit financing UNTIL it has signed contracts with its stews. To that end, the stews still maintain power and respect at the negotiating table. I also assume AMFA and NW will have to finally work something out in an agreement before NW can get optimum financing. Look for AMFA to compromise itself on this in a way that screws over those who struck while giving recognitions to those who crossed or were newly hired. It's the dues.
Unfortunately, the AFA won't educate its members on the effects and powers its non agreement will have on investments since it is my assumption that the AFA really wants the stews to sign the contract so the dues can start rolling in.
regards,