Originally Posted by
NineGturn
One of the most intelligent discussions on this topic ever, even though it's off topic.
Seniority is always there at most large organizations but may be more informal and without providing entitlements. Seniority can still be used for day to day stuff like schedule bidding, jumpseat priority, etc. It would help to create an incentive for pilots to stick with one company without forcing them to stick with one company.
Think how much money regional airlines could save on training costs without entitlement bidding and entitlement upgrades. They could continue to be a starting point for low time pilots at low pay building experience while still being able to attract and retain the experienced pilots they need at higher pay.
Maybe it needs to start at the regional level. The way I see it it's the only way the regionals can beat their self imposed "pilot shortage."
The way I see it now...the regionals exploited the unionized seniority system too much and now that they are major players in the competition to fill cockpits they've found they're overextended. The old game simply won't work for them anymore.
The only way I could see for regional pilots to gain power is to take it (of course it could kill off the regional airlines too!). So the plan. Get all reps from all regional airlines to meet. Form a corporation (NOT a union). Get the majority of line pilots to submit apps to that company. The organization then calls all CEO's into a meeting and says "Our company is in business to contract pilots to airlines. We have a lot of pilots that have applied to us. Most seem to currently employed by you. If we hire this is what we are offering the line pilot. Just thought we would give you guys a heads up. When you have no pilots to fly your airplanes we will be glad to contract our pilots to you for XXXXX amount. Ya'll have a good day and we hope to do business with you in the near future. Of course it would be implied that if the airline tries to hire outside of the EXCLUSIVE contract with the organization it will null the contract and ALL contract pilots will stop flying for them instantly. Legally it is doable. Again it would NOT be a union. Pilots would also be required to de-cert ALPA first to get them and their contract out of the way. Just a business suppyling pilots on a contract basis. Of course ALPA could try to unionize the pilots at the new corporation (well, they could try!). Good luck getting pilots on board with this. It would be like a thousand cats in a giant bag.