No Strikes in 2001
 

At a tax-cut rally earlier today, President Bush made it clear that due to economic instability, he won't allow any airline strikes this year. While I am fiercely pro-labor, I have to admit that's one less travel problem I have to worry about...

I thought the president merely had th epower to delay a strike for 60 days? can he really prevent them completely? Gosh i hope so, the DL pilots at least are really looking like whiny brats, as opposed to a group with genuine grievances.

President Bush can impose a PEB, which imposes an additional 60 day waiting period. If the two sides still cannot come to an agreement after that time, Congress can impose a settlement. And since Congress is controlled by the GOP, and the GOP is anti-labor...(you get the picture)

Can you imagine what the attitudes will be like if that happens. i just hope that they can agree. If the pilots all work to rule, that will in a way be worse as the airline will say "Business As Normal" . Ho Hum. What with the ATC controllers rumbling here - yuk!

What, are the ATC guys going to strike next? that woul dbe funny, especially when they all get thrown out on their rears, just like when they struck under Reagan's watch. What a stupid, selfish way to express dissatisfaction with your job. I just don't understand how people of this mindset find themselves working in service positions.

Don't get me wrong: I see the value in strikes as they are the only leverage that labor has against management. OTOH, the impact of a strike is limited under Conserative government.

[This message has been edited by avek00 (edited 03-09-2001).]

Paul is referring to ATC in the UK threatening to strike. Since Bush is only President of the United States, I am afraid he can't sack our controllers http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

On the GB strike threat, see also:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum...ML/001351.html

If a group of workers cannot come to terms with their management, they should have the right to strike, transportation workers and public employees included. I find it hard to place my own convenience as a passenger above this right. Many other transportation alternatives are always available, even though not necessarily equivalent.

If the President can take away the right to strike by executive order, then why should he not have the right temporarily to nationalize the airline by executive order?

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gifOh No, we can't have that! Violates free market! So does the R.L.A. What's good for the goose is rarely good for the gander, and it's a myth that workers have much in the way of rights in this country.

quote:
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....If the President can take away the right to strike by executive order, then why should he not have the right temporarily to nationalize the airline by executive order?....
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I think the airlines were nationalized during WWII. I recently read an article on John L Lewis (the former head of the United Coal Workers Union). He called a nation-wide strike during WWII and were mines were nationalized in 1943. A dont remember if they stated it was the prez or congress who did the legal stuff.

MisterNice

F.D.R. nationalized the coal mines during World War II. The Supreme Court told him he couldn't do it. Then he tried to "pack the court" (i.e. appoint extra judges) and Congress said he couldn't do that.

Not our finest hour... in fact, a low point in American democracy not equalled until this past December. (I'm an equal-opportunity malcontent. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif)

I agree, workers should have an unregulated right to strike, as soon as management has the right to fire those employees who strike with no impunity. Then you have a truly level playing field. But as long as employers are regulated into not replacing striking workers, then it is not a fair situation. As far as I know there are labor laws forbidding the wholesale firing and replacing of striking workers? If I am wrong I apologize.

SRQ Guy: What about the ATC people who Regan fired in the early 80's?

That is one of the main reasons why National will never be called by its new name.

In general (and the situation in transportation industries regulated by the Railway Labor Act may well be different), in private industry, under Supreme Court decisions made under the National Labor Relations Act and the Taft-Hartley Act, workers engaged in economic strikes can be permanently replaced (although prior to about 10 years ago this was hardly ever done). Workers engaged in Unfair Labor Practice strikes (subject to determination by the National Labor Relations Board) cannot be permanently replaced. I disagree, of course, that the ability to replace strikers levels the playing field. It does very much the opposite. The field would be level if you could strike without danger of being replaced permanently.

"...I find it hard to place my own convenience as a passenger above this right..."

Darn it, Rich, you just simply have not yet learned to be selfish enough! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

FWIW, my limited recollection and understanding of the R.L.A. is that it dates back to when the rails where really the rails, and we were collectively so very interdependent on them. The purpose was to insure both our National security and the economic security of other unrelated businesses. Otherwise innocent folks completely unrelated to the matters at hand might be seriously, even irreparably injured! Thus, historically, ie before the emergance of our "new economy", one sought a confirmation of any increase and new high in the DJIA by an attendant new high also being reached in the transportation index - the rails! If companies were gonna' make so much money producing things, then by God the Railroads would be making more money movin' the stuff! Of course now the US doesn't produce or export all that much - except for movies! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

I do remember, as a child, my dad would often save/bank all his vacation time for an upcoming strike threat so as to try to avoid irritating and alienating top management by not going in and also other workers by crossing any picket lines on the way on! Those were not our most fun vacations! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif


And also insofar as a low point in American democracy not equalled until this past December, I would also take the opportunity to remind folks of the incredibly unjust mass interrment of the Japanese during WWII. When I first learned of this, I literally could not believe that our "wonderful" government could actually, in their infinite wisdom, have done this to them! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

As good as we generally have been, relative to many other governments, we have surely had our share of VERY dark moments! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

On the plus side, even with Wubya in charge, the future looks bright! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif