Originally Posted by jetlink

AA contract was design to be supper inefficient for AA, so APA can have more pilots on the property. Example; B757, B767 separate fleets, international and domestic flying based on seniority. Sometimes you have to ask yourself is this makes sense? Many pilots are conservative and advocate against government inefficiency, unnecessary stuffing, wasteful spending, pushing for competition driven approach to government; however, when it comes to their own turf, majority becomes worst then chairman of polit-bureau in Soviet Union; becoming active union members, protectionists, etc, totally opposite to their own political views. We have to always seek for a healthy balance; an airline that operates profitably and efficiently, and shares portion of their profits with people that makes it happens. Upper management will always find ways to balance the books, all they have to do is declare Ch.13. and furlough, cut contracts. Overstuffing the airlines, just because times are good and we can push for it, is unfair to junior pilots hired at the tail end, giving them false hopes for careers that does not exist. Contracts should always have some wiggle room and be flexible enough to manage through tough times, allowing to manage and protect jobs. I'll probably get flamed for that, but what's the point of free and open discussion if we can speak our minds.