William E. Thoms – författare

Dempsey and Thoms provide an authoritative overview of the development of transportation law in the America in the last century. They trace the development of American transportation (including railroads, pipelines, water transport, motor carriers, and airlines), the origins of economic regulation, the changing role of regulators, and the effects of deregulation. Economic regulations are separated into three areas: policing entry and exit from transportation, efforts to keep rates just, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory, and mergers, consolidations, antitrust, and other issues. The limitation of loss, damage, and other tort suits against carriers by legislation is also considered. Other chapters review government operation of railroads from Amtrak and Conrail to commuter trains and local freight lines, the Railway Labor Act and other labor legislation pertinent to the transportation industry, and the sponsorship of urban mass transit by the federal government.

Although Americans enjoy the convenience and economic benefits of the world's most advanced air transportation system, the future of the airline industry is clouded by capacity constraints, safety and environmental concerns, the consolidation of carriers, and, especially, airline labor relations under the Railway Labor Act. In this volume, William E. Thoms and Frank J. Dooley provide a comprehensive, authoritative overview of the history, the law, and the mechanics of modern airline labor bargaining. The authors trace the development of airline labor law, the representation and labor bargaining processes, and labor protection. The discussion is enhanced throughout by the inclusion of up-to-date case law. Other statutes which have an important impact on the employment relationship such as the Airline Deregulation Act are also considered in detail. Finally, the authors explore future issues which may affect relations between labor and management in the aviation industry.The book begins by reviewing the background of airline labor law, providing insights into the origins of airline regulation. The authors then provide a thorough discussion of the Railway Labor Act negotiating process, including the requirements of the Act, procedural steps in major and minor disputes, the role of the National Mediation Board, and mandatory bargaining subjects. Six areas related to the settlement of disputes are then studied in greater detail: the distinction between major and minor disputes; the role of air transport system boards of adjustment; the purpose of emergency boards; the related concepts of impasse, economic self-help, and reinstatement; strikes, boycotts, and injunctions under the Railway Labor Act; and restrictions on subcontracting. The next two chapters examine other statutes affecting airline labor relationships and the labor protection provisions of the Railway Labor Act. The authors conclude by looking at future trends in aviation labor law and the impact of issues such as drug testing, employee ownership plans, and mergers on airline labor relations. Ideal as a set of readings for courses on transportation law, labor economics, and transportation management, this book will also be of significant interest to regulators, union leaders, and attorneys specializing in transportation issues.

In this timely work, Sheila Deitz and William Thoms have brought together a group of essays that explore some of the human factors that are becoming increasingly recognized as major causes of airplane mishaps and crashes. While much of the discussion on this topic necessarily focuses on pilots, other airline professionals--flight attendants, mechanics, air traffic controllers, and executives--are also subject to the psychological stress addressed in these studies. The contributors examine a selected range of topics that include such areas as working conditions, perception, risk assessment, and the necessity of making choices in an unforgiving environment.The book presents twelve chapters written by professionals who have devoted considerable time to studying the people who work for commercial airlines, and who have weathered the change from being part of a regulated industry to dealing with life in a cutthroat competitive environment. Among the topics that these professionals and scholars examine are the ways in which an impaired pilot can be deprived of his or her license, and the psychological factors involved; the influence of high altitude on the body, and how some of the physiological risks can be avoided; factors in qualifying pilots for medical certificates; communication and psychological issues facing student pilots; airline deregulation in the U.S. and Canada, and its effect on employees; age discrimination and the effectiveness of older pilots; hijacking; and the drafting of civilian pilots into war efforts. This important collection of essays will be a useful resource for students and professionals in the field of air transportation, as well as for both public and academic libraries.