Let ME be clear. What you are proposing is that junior pilots get a 50% payraise in the next contract, and senior pilots get a 20% raise. Or whatever the numbers turn out to be. And that's your definition of what a "real union" would do, huh?

And let me guess, you just happen to be junior...

Seriously, I find it disappointing that the only people who seem to argue strongly for a position, are those who would benefit directly from it, all the while claiming a morally superior position and rationalizing it is the best for the pilot group as a whole. Some examples:

1. Old guys arguing that retirement dollars are the most important.
2. Junior guys arguing that scope is the most important.
3. Junior guys arguing we need to level payrates (see above).
4. Senior pilots in smaller equipment arguing for seniority based (rather than equipment based) pay.
5. All pilots in a smaller aircraft (MD88 and/or 767) asking for pay "banding" that would bring their pay up more than their peers (73N and 330/777 respectively).
6. Regional guys arguing for a merger just so they can get a DAL seniority number without an interview.
7. Bald guys arguing to keep the hat.

And the list goes on and on...