Originally Posted by
Fool Me Twice
The only guys other than senior Captains that want to go to DEN or ORD are the group of furloughed L-UAL pilots who I am a part of. We have been furloughed twice, stuck on the CAL seniority list under CAL's draconian work rules as a new hire, and we won't see a raise for over 5 years... not even a $1/year raise.
"Each and every time we say "it can't get any worse", it always, without fail, DOES! "
This quote is my favorite as it usually happens to those of us at the bottom. I am ready to fight for a better contract, but after being hired in 1999, I am tired of being on the bottom. I have 1,437 bretheren who are with me as they have felt the screw twice. We need something fomm either union who both claim to represent us. If I can get out of EWR and get LAX, DEN, or ORD; then I will.
I remember the senior folks telling me that they didn't furlough me, the company did. Well, I and my fellow CAL pilots (At least that is what I am told daily who I am; especially since the UAL Furlough Coordinator came to our class and told us that we were still considered furloughed by L-UAL)aren't screwing you, the company is.
If you want to pull on the same side of the rope, then let's bring it against the true enemy-the company and management that has screwed us both. Let's bring it to the contract table and get it done. Then I can figure out what the hell I am.... A United Pilot. That's what I signed on for 12 years ago.
Fraternally.
FMT
FMT,
I like it! Really you summed up the frustration that many feel. I've been saying all along that we (the company) needs as many of you guys back off furlough as possible...preferably it will be under a combined contract. Until then the CAL side still needs the bodies as evidenced by the two-week junior manning opportunities being offered. Get you guys back to work as some of you I know are suffering. It may not be much better coming back to the CAL work rules.
In regards to LAX, DEN or ORD, yes I would expect that the most junior pilots on the CAL seniority list now (the UAL re-hired furloughs) would be the ones to want those bases as soon as able. I don't blame you and of course was referring to the L-CAL guys when I said no one I have encountered is chomping at the bit for your bases.
I agree that the focus should be on management, not each other, and getting the best possible contract we can so we get all of this behind us.