Originally Posted by
Andy
It's easy to take shots at scabs and those that have flown with them on anonymous forums. When I got 'hired' at LCAL as part of the merger agreement, I flew with a few of them. Some were social misfits, but I was surprised that one of the best Captains I flew with was on the scab list.
I've never crossed a picket line but I've done a whole lot of very stupid things in my life that I'd love to have a 'redo' on. I'm sure that there are more than a few scabs that'd like to step into a time machine and stop their younger selves from scabbing. For those few scabs who express pride over crossing the picket line (there are some), I'll only tell them to F themselves and the only other conversation I want with them is checklist items. Just remember everyone - those vocal dirtbags are mostly flying with very junior reserves (mostly on probation), as almost everyone else bids away, drops trips, or call in sick. So, who's 'protecting' the probationary pilots from these dreadful scabs?
On a side note, I didn't think that our union brothers did much to help us multiple furloughees over the last decade. Jets for jobs? Wow; Livin' The Dream flying a Brasilia on year 2 pay of $20K/yr. Furlough fund? Great, my dental was paid for while quite a few of those not furloughed were picking up open trips.
Sure, I'll bid Sparky - it pays very well and I don't mind sitting reserve. I won't look at the scab list before I fly with anyone and let their actions do the talking. Just like my actions (and everyone else's) will be judged on day-to-day performance.
I'd love to see a way past this issue, as some of the scabs are younger than me and I don't want to listen to the squawking about subhuman scabs for the rest of my career. Not an easy thing to get past and I've got no solutions to offer.
For what it's worth, I don't expect to have the 'opportunity' to go on strike for the rest of my career, as UCH is too big for any government to allow us to strike. IF we are able to go on strike sometime in the future, we've got bigger problems than who's going to scab because it'll mean that the airline is about to go Chap 7.
I'll now slip into my flame retardant suit.
Sorry Andy, but I can't agree with you. There is no way past this issue. Despite ALPA's forgiveness, SCABS are SCABS forever. They made a choice. A bad one. And I believe it behooves us as a group never to forget this. We stand as brothers and sisters, and when someone chooses to turn their back on us in our darkest hour, their true character gets revealed. If a friend did to me what SCABS did to their union brothers and sisters, they would no longer be my friend. But because they work here, we don't have a choice but to deal with them in day to day life. But we don't have to forget that at the most critical point, THEY took out the knife, turned, and planted it firmly in our back.
Think of it this way.... you see by the strong reaction of those who you call out in your post for dumping on SCABS that there is NO DOUBT that this activity is NOT ok in a union. Ever. So those who crossed the line knew the consequences. Of that I have no doubt. How would you feel today if we HAD been allowed to strike over the last contract and the company threatened to fire you if you walked. The only way out was through the unity of your brothers and sisters knowing that if we ALL walked out together they couldn't operate the airline... but some put themselves before you and putting food in the mouths of your family, your friends, and the good of the profession. I wasn't around in 83 or 85, but I can imagine how I would have felt watching someone do that to me and those that I care about. No thanks. You can play nice if you want, but to me there are some lines that if crossed will never be forgiven. Some deeds just simply can never be undone. I pray for unity in our 2 pilot groups. I think it's achievable and closer than we think. But SCABS are the opposite of the unity and peace you seek. Whether they be from LUAL or LCAL.