Originally Posted by
Sink r8
I'm amazed anyone is complaining about having RAW buckets that are too large. I assume this is because the complaining is done by pilots so junior they've never seen the old system.
The problem with the RAW system was that it abbrogated seniority, and prevented the flying from being assigned on a seniority basis. It's not just a question of whether one flies, but a question of how flying is distributed among those that have to fly.
The full Low AND High yellow system was so sweet that junior pilots couldn't always get reserve at all. This meant people could slip into lines sooner, and only a small portion of the guys would fly a lot, and those guys would quickly hit the limit, which was good for them (commuters would get done, and go home for the rest of the month), and good for GS opportunities for all.
The bottom line is that arguing for small RAW buckets is arguing for the company's objective, which is to have everyone come up at the same time, so noone benefits. You're saying it's not fair that anyone has a good deal, so we might as well all have... a RAW deal.
Please list me in the camp that says any RAW bucket, no matter how large, is always too small. We don't need no RAW buckets.
Sink, seniority already buys pilots nearly 2/3rds of the month off. I haven't cracked 30 yet, and there have been only a few months this past year that i passed 80 and not by much. Meanwhile because of the way weekends are now staffed those guys routinely break 100-120 raw scores. Seniority is already in play and there are two buckets, weekends off and no weekends off which is rarely fly or always fly. Seniority does matter and it should.
Seniority should be in place to ensure you can work the trip you want when you have to work but not give you the month off while the guy 1 junior works the entire month in your place. Seniority with a line for the same amount of pay doesn't get you time off. It gets you the days and trips you want. On reserve it used to get you the days, and adding some weight for sc days and trip preferencing when you do have to work makes sense. I'm okay with bringing back a high yellow, add 15 points to your score, have at it.
But I am not going to champion a cause where one never has to work and others pick up his load for the same amount of money.
The way I see it this is like telling every pilot in a category that the top 5% will be paid ALV and have the month off because they're the top 5%, now carry on. Oh wait, except that the rest of you will need to pick up their work for no credit starting not with the plug but rather in reverse seniority order starting with Mr 50%.