Union’s modus operandi has been:
1. Union shows strong opposition to change, but after initially seeming to present strong opposition ultimately recommends changes only half as bad as they were going to be and claims a victory. (Airline management 101)
2. Union allows, even promotes a strike to show how strong they are (but only when they sense that pilots may believe that the union credibility has been brought into question) but then let ACAS intervene to provide what is ultimately recommended as binding arbitration.
Either way Airline wins.
I’m sorry but I’m a cynical old git but I’ve seen all of this before. At my airline pilots set up a credible alternative (with approaching 75% of the pilot membership) but the management have spent years putting obstacles in the way to avoid ever having to deal with it. Makes you wonder why.
Ladies and gentlemen you have been truly thrown under a bus and unfortunately it does not surprise me in the least.
My vague hope is that a majority of the Rottweilers have turned.
Excuse my being vague, but litigation is a real threat.