I do agree negotiate in good faith. Our old management wouldn't let the ink dry before they would break contracts. This happened more and more in time as we sank further and further down. So I'm with you on that one 100%.
Having said that,
I don't know what airline YOU worked for, but over half of what was USAir in 1989 were brought up to US wages PLUS the amt of hiring for the difference in pilot/fa duty rigs, and lets not forget all the mechanics to push back airplanes...and finally utility...ALL at pretty good wages. Yes, we have always had poor management, but can you imagine the outrage if anyone's pay had been frozen or cut?
All of us laughed our way to the bank making what we made and having the cushy contracts we had and yes life was grand, BUT not one employee questioned any of this. Nobody complained that perhaps this labor pigfest would come back to haunt us along with managers that didn't know how to run a major airline. Management is mostly to blame but the workforce..myself included...must take some responsibility for their part.
We are all partly to blame for the mess we were in, but it is now our responsibilty to give this group a chance. No, don't roll over and let this group become what we have known, but they ARE a fresh team for us. Perhaps the West coast way IS the better way. Just give them a chance for God's sake.
I would just once like someone besides myself to admit that we as labor played our part in screwing things up...just ONE person...even if it was that we were .000001 partly to blame. That is the arrogance that people have always despised about US East employees collectively and that's why the arrogance or better yet those that are arrogant and entitled while we're at it, must move on.
I would LOVE the days of old but they are gone forever. Hanging onto that will destroy us. 😉