These beasties are a laugh a minute, half truths and distortions. It's been 9 freakin years since the us/awa merge. Now think about that, think about how long it historically took to become a captain at awa? 7 years or less, I personally upgraded to 757 captain right at 7 years. So of course very awa pilot should be able to hold a group 2 captain, what the beasties don't tell you is they have 29% more bidding positions today than they had in 2007 while the west lost 20%. This resulted in furloughs and downgrades west and massive hiring east. Remember Bradford's goal of delaying a contract indefinitely? Well there was a reason for that wasn't there? Btw, the east are union busters pure and simple, some of you are offended by the "scab" word used to describe them but you shouldn't be, they busted a union with the purpose of not getting a contract while undercutting the wests pay and benefits, what do you call people that do that? I know what they are just fine.