The optimist in me might speculate that by verbally accepting over 60 guys going BACK, DW might be playing poker and trying to win those guys some passover pay. The company WILL NOT pay that if it thinks these guys REALLY WOULDN'T accept going back to training. Therefore--to get these guys the extra pay--the union HAS to take the position "of course they can go back...their seniority allows it..."

However--its a high stakes poker game and I can't read DW's eyes. What I do know is that I have ZERO problem with any over 60 guy getting paid as a captain to plumb whatever jet he's currently on. Hell...its a windfall that doesn't hurt anyone but the company's shareholders in the long run. I think we are profitable enough with the optimizer working as hard as it is to absorb those losses.

If, however...DW "really" wants those guys flowing back...we got a real problem. I know a good poker player can't show his hand to other guys at the table, but he really does need to be more clear about the rationale behind his moves.

Old guy or new hire--we've got to be together in the end. Right now I haven't seen anyone throw the junior guys a bone. I'll I've seen them do is say "....we had it tough....shut up and color...etc..." I'd like to see a way to somehow divide some of the spoils of the 5 year career extension some folks are getting.