This podcast episode discusses a historic labor dispute involving flight attendants at Alaska Airlines in 1993. The chapter highlights the use of innovative tactics, including a "chaos campaign" and intermittent striking, to counter the airline's strategy of employing permanent replacements or "scabs" during a strike. The negotiations and preparations made by both the flight attendants and the airline are explored, as well as the legal battles to defend the striking workers' rights. The episode sheds light on labor disputes, counter moves, and the evolving strategies used in such conflicts.
Main points
• Labor disputes involve the use of various tactics and counter-tactics by competing parties.
• A flight attendant strike at TWA led to the use of permanent replacements, or scabs, which was widely condemned.
• Alaska Airlines flight attendants in 1993 aimed to avoid the pitfalls experienced by TWA attendants during contract negotiations.
• The airline developed a chaos campaign strategy to create the impact of a strike without actually going on strike.
• The threat of chaos and uncertainty affected Alaska Airlines, with bookings declining as passengers feared disruption of service.
• The flight attendants employed intermittent striking, striking one flight crew at a time for short durations, to make it difficult for the airline to replace them.
• The battle between the flight attendants' union and Alaska Airlines showcased the determination and resourcefulness of the flight attendants in defending their rights.
• The union successfully defended their right to engage in intermittent striking in court, despite the airline's attempts to halt the tactic.
• The episode explores the complex dynamics and choices faced by both parties during the labor dispute.
• The use of innovative strategies and the evolution of labor dispute tactics are key themes throughout the episode.
