Originally Posted by
sonnycrockett
To all the pilots who walked the line.......FOR ME........I say "Thank You"
I walked the EAL line when I was 17 years old and a High School Senior....I walked it with my south Florida neighbors/pilots. (rEAL guys)
I am shocked at recent developments with my own airline career. The entitlement crowd of CAL 2005-2008 hires who are more then willing to walk over the backs of ALPA brothers. I wear a 20 year ALPA pin and am ashamed at pilots on BOTH sides of this nightmare.
We all need to look in the mirror and really think about what we are looking at.
I heard a story recently from a CAL Capt about his F/O he was flying with after his IOE.. This FO made it clear that he was going to give him "the real IOE" and let him know how it is done from the right seat. Was this F/O a 20 year veteran? No....rather another self entitled "gimme-gimme-gimme" 2005 hire at CAL.
My old man made one statement that really rings out to this day.
"I am not giving you this career as I received it in 1965---I am sorry the field I am letting you grow the crop in will not yield anything worth selling"
Sadly this career has been sliding backwards since the early 80's if not sooner than that. We only have ourselves to blame.
Where is the Unity? Where is my Union?
Sonny Crockett
I read your post, and I agree with most of it. I do find the portion of your post about the 2005-2006 hires a tad offensive. I was hired in 2006 after flying for the military, so my ALPA experience is limited, but I never want career progression at the expense of someone else. So painting everyone in that group with a broad stroke is a little bothersome. I plan on having a long career at the combined United; I want to come to work do the job, and enjoy the comradery of the pilots I fly with. I've read a majority of your posts, and they all tend to come from a level headed point of view so I don't want you to think I'm angry or upset by this one. After all the blustery posts on APC and Calforums I can see how everyone's blood pressure is a little high on both sides of the airline.
Hopefully after the arbitrators decide what the list looks like we are both equally disapointed enough to grab a beer and politely complain about the outcome.
Your Future Union Brother
-JDT