Originally Posted by eaglefly

I'll honor this rare moment of lucidity (although I suspect it's simply trolling for a new springboard for attack ). It's predominantly 18-year scale captains (hundreds of them). They've been trying to run senior pilots off the property for almost a decade to bring costs down.

Originally Posted by Route66

Good. I'm glad you'll oblige me. (No, really! I mean it.)

I accept your premise that they are trying to run "senior pilots off the property for most a decade to bring costs down."

So unions, any union....biggest problem is justifying more pay for more longevity.

Now you KNOW that the company has said many times they DON'T care about seniority, correct? So if that is true (and it IS true because they have said it in MANY court briefs of which I will spare you if you just take my word for it).

They DON'T care about seniority because as of right now they can offer higher paying jobs to junior pilots who are willing to fly Captain at LOWER longevity rates of pay.

Put another way, why pay a Captain at 18-year scale when they can pay 1-2 year F/Os at 2 year Captain rates? Following the latest 15-01 thread, why do new hire/junior pilots bid off the F/O 190 seat for Airbus/Boeing right seat or even Captain 190 seats. Is it the prestige...is it geography....is it principle (or lack thereof in some peoples view) or could it be.....MONEY?

Why should the Company pay an 18-year guy 18-year longevity PAY when the guy with 1-2 years and Captain "qualified" (ATP, 1st class medical and type rating on the aircraft) will make more than 2 year F/O pay but not as much as the 18-year guy for DOING THE SAME JOB?

I'm just asking the question in a civil manner. Thank you for the courtesy of answering me.