John McCain and the pilots

Sen. John McCain may have the Republican party nomination wrapped up, but he still has some convincing to do with one group of traditionally Republican voters. No, I'm not talking about evangelical Christians - I'm talking about commercial airline pilots.

McCain co-sponsored legislation in 2003 that would have changed the Railway Labor Act to include mandatory "baseball-style" arbitration in airline contract negotiations. That's a method whereby a mediator makes the final decision on disputed issues, and there is no appeal. Unions have long opposed any attempts to force that type of arbitration, because it removes their greatest form of leverage - the ability to strike.

McCain's 2003 effort failed, but lots of pilots still remember it. One told me recently that he will never vote for the Arizona senator, and he believes many of his colleagues feel the same way.

"Look, most pilots are ex-military, they're professionals, most of them vote Republican and have all their lives," the pilot said. "But when it comes to McCain, most of us all remember how he backed airline management and tried to screw the pilots. That's going to cost him some votes."

- Trebor

Comments

[Monty Ousley Weddell]

McCain decision correct! Previous 2003 decision by McCain to reduce the power of labor unions (Re:pilots) was based upon good conservative principals. The trend for reduction of power of labor unions has been going on for over a decade. Indeed, many large US corps. are outsourcing work due to power misused by unions, or are offering buy outs to reduce hugh labor costs ruining business. Further, some industries, pilots (should be included), hospitals, gov't emp., etc. have unions but are prohibited to strike. Pilots should not have been exempted! McCain will benefit overall from conservatives for his strong position, even though a few pilots will disagree. Monty O. Weddell Dallas, TX

[Truth]

Conservatism = failure. It is time for a change.

[Fred Taylor]

"...many large US corps. are outsourcing work due to power misused by unions..."

hogwash.

There is no technology union. But, that hasn't stopped just about every fortune 100 company from shipping jobs by the tens of thousands overseas.

More businesses have augered into the landscape by greedy management with golden parachutes than union members. Show me a corporation that filed bankruptcy, and I'll show you a bunch of fat cats that lined their pocketbooks with bonuses and stock options worth millions. Unions wouldn't even have come into existence if it weren't for the hardball actions of American corporations.

The only people who should be forced to give up their right to walk off the job are those whose job is human safety related. And, delayed or cancelled flights do not fit that category.

[Captain Fury]

Now Monty, if you'd like to be taken seriously, you'll have to drop your screaming anti-union bias.

Speaking of your bias, did I miss where you mentioned restrictions on management action commensurate with union workers' right to strike--specifically, forbidding management from imposing a contract, just as you'd forbid unions to strike?

I didn't think so and actually, didn't think you were aware of the tenuous balance spelled out by the Railway Labor Act that governs pilot-management negotiations.

And speaking of your ignorance, pilots were never "exempted" from the restrictions on federal workers--they weren't ever federal workers. How would you have liked it if the government had interfered with your job as a vacuum cleaner salesman just because some ignorant fool decided to lump you and your Electrolux buddies--you wildmen--in with federal workers?

Go back to your PlayStation, Monty--at least you can control the degree of difficulty there.

Airline Pilot

[JD]

US corps are outsourcing because of greed! This country was built by the middle class and the mfg jobs associated with it. It's funny NAFTA was passed to help curb the immigration problem because it would help create jobs in Mexico. It did create jobs in Mexico, 4 dollar a day jobs. This isn't some make believe factoid, but this is actual salaries for a 12 hour day! It amazes me that people continue to belive the Rush Limbaughs of the world who degrade unions. Mexico is a country without a middle class, and with service jobs taking over the mfg jobs in the US the gap will grow wider.

[platinum flyer]

What great news! Pilots; mostly Republicans, won't vote for McCain. Let's see, most hated Clinton. So who will they vote for? I hope McCain gets the GOP nomination and campaigns on this issue (right around the time the AA pilots will try to stike) and they vote for the Dem. nominee (or don't vote at all!)and a Democrat wins the White House. Or, if McCain wins, passes that piece of legislation.

[Gary]

"Look, most pilots are ex-military, they're professionals, most of them vote Republican and have all their lives," the pilot said. "But when it comes to McCain, most of us all remember how he backed airline management and tried to screw the pilots. That's going to cost him some votes."

This guy understands pilots, the way the NEA understands the interests of parents. He reminds me of the United pilot who objected to the Bush sticker on my kit bag. Riding in his jump seat, I was forced to listen to his lecture on the evils of Republicans. Like minded political oddballs think the OneWorld Alliance is conspiracy involving the Council of Foreign Relations.

We have a group of anti-corporate libs, who pretend to represent a group that is overwhelmingly Republican. The only reason their nonsense plays as well as it does is due to the incompetence of American's HR department. Lloyd Hill and his merry band of followers represent an obstacle to any liberalization of the global aviation industry, of which American Airlines is poised to reap the most benefits. Maybe someday the airline industry will be treated like a normal business.

[Mike Askew]

Political oddball? As a commercial airline pilot I am well aware of anti labor and anti union tactics used by Republicans. Pilots are hourly unionized workers as are many hardworking Americans and as a group we typically vote Democratic because a large base of Democratic support comes from organized labor and they therefore look out for our interests better than Republicans who favor management. With the EU attempting to pass open skies agreements and end cabatoge and allow foreign carriers to operate in the U.S. we need as many Democrats in office as possible. Then again maybe I can just go to a community college and learn a new skill as Bush proposed in his State of the Union address.

[Ray]

"Unions wouldn't even have come into existence if it weren't for the hardball actions of American corporations."

This is the dumbest sentence I have ever read. Thank you for reminding me how easy it is to blatantly lie to people without them knowing.

Frank Taylor, go back to school.