Originally Posted by
iarapilot
The Company designed the amnesty program that was offered to the accused. The Union had to agree to the amnesty program and what was in it. CB was the union rep who signed off on the language of the amnesty program, and the program itself. By doing this, credibility was given to the whole idea that the pilots were guilty and were being offered a last chance to save their jobs.
The problem with your ascertain is to assume that all pilots were (are) equally "guilty" (or not) of the same infractions. In all likelihood, some pilots were, indeed, "gaming the system", as some have speculated, while others, and the union, feel they have not committed fraud and the companies interpretation of the LOA is flawed. The amnesty program gives those pilots who may have weaker arguments with the company a fig leaf to recover their jobs. The others (hopefully) have a strong enough case to convince an arbitrator of their innocence.