Originally Posted by Leroy Smith

True, as long as pilots continue to participate in the race to the bottom, the die is cast. Wanna talk about Comair - they were killed off by the non-specific scumbaggery of other pilots. Comair was terminal the day that Chautauqua and Freedom showed up on the A gates in CVG. Why would anyone go to RAH or Mesa/Freedom at the time, with the contract that they had/have, when there were so many better options? Because they were growing and upgrading and getting the shiniest of jets. And how many of them just ended up working under a crappier contract/furloughed from Mesa/ displaced/ etc. without the quick upgrade? 1000 or more? Every one has their variation on the justification of "doing what is best for me and mine". But regardless of their own personal win or loss - every one of them contributed to the sucking sound this industry is making. And that is just one example. Those who have been around a while can recall many similar situations. GoJet? Skywest and the ace they dealt? The list goes on, most every group did something either big or small along the way, and the true repercussions may not have been felt until most of those responsible were no longer there.

Chasing new A/C and a quick upgrade negates any and all other benefits of collective bargaining and pattern bargaining. We are in a post-union situation, because pay and QOL provisions of CBAs have become irrelevant. They have been superseded by the shiny jet and upgradez. If you do not win the lottery of timing a quick upgrade you will be SOL - because of the next group that shows up with the low-ball deal. Wash, rinse, repeat. We (pilots in general) seem incapable of acting in our own self interest beyond the immediate gratification of the now. On the surface, cause and effect have been disconnected, and the strings are pulled by those who truly benefit over the long term. The enemy is us.