Ain't that the truth Tracking. One of my squadron mates (fleet-qual '85 ual hire) and I just about came to blows over the issue in 2000. Believe it or not, I was a staunch longevity/doh supporter; he rest his hat on status/category. Been thinking about giving him a call and admitting that he was right back then, sarcasm intended.. What a difference a decade can make.

What I've gleaned from that: Mob mentality can be a handicap to otherwise fair and reasonable people. At various times in my tumultuous career, I read. I went back and read Flying the Line II and Collision with Collusion last month and found lots of juicy nuggets that explain the a lot of angst the more senior among our groups might have for each other. Page 200 quoted MEC Chairman Dick Cosgave who said that in labor/management disputes "you've got to fight fair like you do with your wife, because eventually you've got to back into bed again". I think that sage statement very relevant today, especially when we are pretty much spectators in this fight.

Frts,

-Ben