Originally Posted by
Really
Lee, While you sound like a good guy to fly with, I think you're preaching to the choir. I've felt both sides went into this with pretty good attitudes I really feel it has deteriorated!! I've never really looked at who I was flying with until about a month ago. Now I check the pairing to see if it's a "N" emp. #, to prepare myself for the trip. Only a couple have been "not so fun" to fly with! But, the situation we both were put in really stinks!! I don't even ask about what they did prior to CAL/UAL since I already know!(and agree with you,don't want to go down that path!) The last guy I flew with wore his old UAL wings was a "red tag" person and really didn't understand why that was offensive. That's the problem!! I just tried to turn it on him and say how do you think I would be received in a UAL uniform with CAL wings. Or wearing a "RED TAG" saying hey I'm different than these guys!! He tried to explain it to me with out much success and I sincerely believe he meant no harm. I'm glad you all are back flying!! And I will make every effort as most of you have in trying to make the Trip enjoyable!! Just remember anytime a CAL pilot says something that you think is offensive he MAY not mean it to be so! I told the guy I was flying with we the 737 guys (cal/furloughed ual) are truely the pioneers of this merger!! WE are the ONLY ones that know whats it feels like to fly post SLI flt crews, Pre-SLI!!!
You make some great points. In particular the "pioneers of this merger" part. We truly are the example of the operationally "merged" part of the pilot group for certain.
I don't wear red clips, old U wings, or have any old stuff on my bags for the very reasons you mention. And, I really don't engage anyone on either side of the equation regarding the SLI because it just isn't productive. It's a meaningless exercise. The arguments have been made and the process will come to an end soon enough.
Hopefully, everyone will be able to accept whatever the outcome is and move on. And, hopefully, we will all learn to become one pilot group and get rid of "red clips," orange bag tags, "ex-Con" tags, and so on. Such items serve no useful purpose. We can all take pride in where we came from for certain; however, we need to collectively focus not on the past but on where we are going forward!
Whether or not we "like the changes," the merger happened.
I can say that when the list comes out, I won't post on this or any other forum to boast or ***** about the final ruling. It's too charged of an issue. While I hope that everyone does well in the end game on the SLI, I know that can't happen. It sucks, but everyone's "career expectations" changed the day the merger was consummated. All the employees are the ones that have to deal with the result.
We can either all go forward together and succeed, or............
On a side note, you'd be surprised at the cold shoulder I get sometimes when I try to engage a brother in blue in my totally CAL uniform. Won't even acknowledge a "good morning" and avoid eye contact, etc. As an old guy, they definitely assume I'm a legacy CAL guy.
It tells me we have a long road ahead of us. At least we can start the journey soon. With any luck, we won't have the Northwest red book green book thing going on until we all retire........
Personally, I have been treated with nothing but respect since coming to the CAL side. I have enjoyed every aspect of the experience and have flown with great, capital C, Capt's.
I can honestly say to those that haven't flown on the "merged" side of the operation, we are way more similar than we are different. The question is will everyone learn to embrace the similarities.
Frats,
Lee