Originally Posted by
krudawg
Back in late 89 we negotiated a contract that dumped the "B" scale (I was 3 years into my "B" at UAL) I won't inflame the discussion by pointing out how much I made as a fo 727 back then but is was roughly 1/3 of my A-Scale counterpart. We negotiated a new contract and Wolf Thru us $54mil. ALPA took $4mil off the top to subsidize Retiree medical that had just increased. Leaving approximately $50mil which was roughly 50% retro. Now you might think that we each got .50 on the dollar for our retro but ALPA looked at the distribution bell curve and saw that the "B" Scale pilots we going to collect a "disproportinate amount" of the retro - whatever the heck that meant at the time. Alpa decided to distribute the money on a "point basis" and you got points for things like how long you worked at UAL - Seniority (I think you could get a maximum of 6 or 7 points max for seniority. And points for things like how long you worked under the retro active period. This system essentially SCREWED all the "B" scaler's and rewarded seniority. BUT also rewarded FLEET QUAL Scabs because they were paid $50/75K (F/O or CAP). It was a shameful act and one I will never forget. I will fight to prevent this from happening again!
Make no mistake about it, the CAL scabs in particular have seen the biggest windfall of any demographic in this industry already. The seniority they stole decades ago, affects everyone junior to them every bid month. The age 65 rule change benefitted them the most, more than any other identifiable group of people. Fight as you may, their "share" of any retro or signing bonus will be at least equal to anyone else's, because to do otherwise would harm the the innocent in similar seniority strata. At least in your example, the money didn't go to the Fleet Quallers disproportianately. I am afraid that to join in your argument via your logic would be folly for hundreds of former New York Air and Pan Am pilots to name a few.