You Know the Industry is Hurting When…

May 16, 2006
Yet another strike occurs as the result of the state of the airline industry. Read on to find out why this latest strike is so ironic.

One could look at it as a damage control move. In a public statement released on May 12, an aviation business said that its unionized employees were on strike effective at 12 noon. The company said that it had been negotiating with the union with "a goal of reaching a consensual agreement on the terms of their collective bargaining agreement." The company said that earlier in the week it and the union had completed a tentative agreement that contained merit salary increases, delayed health care cost increases, and improved several other areas of the contract. The union members rejected that TA and the strike ensued. In the press release, the company said, "Management believes that the TA sufficiently balances the economic realities of the airline profession we serve and the needs of the fine employees."

So, what is the greedy corporate entity that the union is striking against? Ironically, it is the Air Line Pilots Association. That's right -- a union is striking a union. ALPA's employees, who belong to the Union of ALPA Professional and Administrative Employees, Unit 2, are on strike against ALPA.

It's never funny when a union goes on strike. It is a very stressful situation. But you almost have to laugh at the irony of this situation. I guess if you are a union employee, you have your best shot striking against a union. ALPA said in its statement, "ALPA strongly believes in and supports the right of all employees -- including its own -- to strike. The officers of the association will do nothing to undermine or interfere with their strike."

Click here to read ALPA's complete statement.

You got to wonder how this will affect ALPA's negotiating power at the table. How can it bargain for increased wages and benefits for its members while its own employees are on strike for the same reasons?

Isn't it ironic?

Joe Escobar