Originally Posted by
SMT Member
A labour market without labour representation is, however, an open invitation to unscrupulous employers, which they will readily and willing exploit to the largest extent possible. Depending on the good-will of a company to maintain respectful and decent labour conditions is a fickle thing, and is in eternal jeopardy as senior management comes and goes. A formal relationship seems to be the best solution, albeit it - like democracy - may often be described as the least bad option.
In the U.S., airline employees fall under the Railway Labor Act. Under the provisions of that law, an employee group has to be under a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) to have a seniority list, grievance procedure, and job protection.