bobbysamd
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2001
- Posts
- 5,710
"B" scales and deregulation
Thanks, guys, for the corrections on dates and parties. I do believe that United had a "B" scale embroglio as well during that time. We also must include Carl Icahn among the opportunists of the time. Very similar, in many ways, to E.L. Cord in the '30s.
While I would hold fast to my theory that a conservative mood and bad times eroded much of the unions' clout, Enigma makes a point about deregulation. I see that more as a conservative concept, even though liberal Sen. Kennedy may have latched onto it. Conservatives want less government, fewer laws and fewer regulations governing our lives.
Just the same, having said all that, there's a place for the union. Pilots need to be represented to ensure companies treat them fairly and establish reasonable work rules, as well as proper pay.
It's not a perfect system, as Rvrrat points out. I go back to my example from the last discussion about grocery workers. Supermarkets where I live are union shops. Every employee has to join the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (formerly the Retail Clerks where I live). This is a strong union which negotiated a good agreement for its members. Good pay and benies for what really is semi-skilled work. Undoubtedly these items cost money, and the stores cannot pass them on entirely to consumers. So, what management does to skirt the contract is hire primarily part-time employees. They don't have to provide benefits to part-time employees. The irony of it, though, is these part-time workers still have to join the union! They are paying union dues and have to go on the lines if there is a strike, which there was here three years ago, but are still only part-time workers.
Unions are a complex subject. Once again, some course in American Labor Movement should be part of the flight training curriculum.
Thanks, guys, for the corrections on dates and parties. I do believe that United had a "B" scale embroglio as well during that time. We also must include Carl Icahn among the opportunists of the time. Very similar, in many ways, to E.L. Cord in the '30s.
While I would hold fast to my theory that a conservative mood and bad times eroded much of the unions' clout, Enigma makes a point about deregulation. I see that more as a conservative concept, even though liberal Sen. Kennedy may have latched onto it. Conservatives want less government, fewer laws and fewer regulations governing our lives.
Just the same, having said all that, there's a place for the union. Pilots need to be represented to ensure companies treat them fairly and establish reasonable work rules, as well as proper pay.
It's not a perfect system, as Rvrrat points out. I go back to my example from the last discussion about grocery workers. Supermarkets where I live are union shops. Every employee has to join the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (formerly the Retail Clerks where I live). This is a strong union which negotiated a good agreement for its members. Good pay and benies for what really is semi-skilled work. Undoubtedly these items cost money, and the stores cannot pass them on entirely to consumers. So, what management does to skirt the contract is hire primarily part-time employees. They don't have to provide benefits to part-time employees. The irony of it, though, is these part-time workers still have to join the union! They are paying union dues and have to go on the lines if there is a strike, which there was here three years ago, but are still only part-time workers.
Unions are a complex subject. Once again, some course in American Labor Movement should be part of the flight training curriculum.