As good a job airlines are doing in offering cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages these days, passengers in the US may face labor relations flight disruptions similar to those that hugely negatively impacted air travel in Europe recently.
Earlier this month Lufthansa pilots walked out for one day over concerns that some routes will be given to partner airlines who pay their pilots less. British Airways attendants voted to authorize a strike this spring and its pilots are in court fighting managements plans to reduce vacation pay, with the threat of a strike looming. In a dispute over cost cutting measures, a group of Air France pilots walked out the beginning of March.
Extended contract talks with assorted unions have been ongoing with American, Continental, Southwest, United, and US Airways.
U.S. carriers have experienced losses in excess of $54 billion and cut 170,000 jobs in the last decade, reducing its work force by over 23 percent. As airline employees have increasingly seen their jobs, pay, and benefits reduced, they have been described as mad as hell, and they arent going to take it anymore.
Unions for American Airlines flight attendants or mechanics and ramp workers are planning to start a 30 day clock that could result in a strike if a satisfactory deal cannot be agreed upon. Pilots, as well as other labor unions, are in heated discussions with Continental, United, and US Airways.
The most recent airline strike in the U.S. was in 05 when most Northwest mechanics walked out and never returned. Northwest hired temporary replacements and eventually permanently outsourced its maintenance work.
Airline strikes are unusual in the U.S. in part because the Railway Labor Act forces the air and rail unions to go through an extensive and complicated process before a strike can start.
www.cheapfares.com