Regardless of the law, all it would take is the 'elusive' determination to remain united. If the entire pilot work force had stopped flying the day the 49's were fired, the airline would have capitulated less than 24 hours later. It is simply our disunity that causes our weakness. The airline cannot function without it's intricate and fragile pool of 2500+ pilots operating in a sustained and reliable manner. If that is threatened, the costs to the airline increase exponentially. Never mind the
PR disaster that a shutdown would incur. As soon as we find a way to resolve this decade(s) long weakness in our character and resolve, the problem of being constantly beaten with a big stick will end.