The WestJet pilots voted for a strike, and instead of going on strike the union chose binding arbitration.eagle7044 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 09, 2023 10:43 amCan you explain the WJ thing? You're saying the pilots didn't want to strike cause those guys all drank the profit sharing koolaid back in the day, or was it the union who didn't want to recommend a strike?Canpilot7 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 09, 2023 10:29 am Not going to arbitration would be the first good plan. No reason to do so - just have to hope that any union members suggesting doing it are cleaned out asap. ALPA turned their back on a strike mandate from the WestJet pilots and that had a major affect on the industry. Have heard the current batch at westjet isn't the type to do that again, so here's hoping.
As for the feds forcing back to work there is a ton of evidence to say they wouldn't do that (the prime minister and his ministers on several occasions adamantly arguing against forcing back to work or any interference of that sort) and zero evidence that they'd force back to work. So I think that assuming it's the current government in place and we don't see some government come in promising to stamp down an airline strike.... I can't see any possibility they intervene. It'd be political suicide
So as it stands, we have the legal right to strike? Didn't we try and fail to reacquire that right in 2012? Beyond a change in gov't, are the laws somehow different now?
I'm also unclear on the arbitration process. If we can assume that an arbitrator won't support any kind of legacy high water mark strategy, and maybe give us inflation at best, isn't it in the company's best interest to get to arbitration as fast as possible? If I understand correctly, the company can request an arbitrator, so we don't exactly have the power to avoid arbitration as a strategy.
And even if we can stave off arbitration, what are the legal ways that we can apply pressure? Obviously ACPA telling everyone in 2012
to call sick was both illegal and ineffective, since most pilots didn't have the stomach to do it, and those who did almost lost their jobs.
Asking lots of questions here, I know. I may be 100% wrong on everything, just trying to wrap my head around all this.
There's a big difference between binding and non binding. So for instance right now, WestJet will have federal government mediation... That's just a step on the road that you have to take to get to a strike.
Going to binding arbitration is where both sides decide they'll agree to whatever the arbitrator picks and then they go in and fight it out. You don't have to do this, and in the current environment there's no reason any reasonable person would even consider it.
Edit: and no need to apologize for asking questions. If every pilot took your efforts to get to know the process we'd be in an incredibly effective position in all negotiations.