Originally Posted by
oldmako
Duvie,
Ever since the merger was announced, this forum (and ualpilots) has displayed posts from LCAL pilots suggesting that the blue team were being a-holes for hanging on to our animosity towards scabs, and that we needed to let it go. Posts which contained phrases like "It was 30 years ago" or, "I was in high school, what do I care".
Read BMEP's post (#7) to get the idea. It smacks of acceptance and he suggests that the OP is just pounding his chest and stirring the pot. No, I like to think that he was just honoring the guys who put their jobs on the line to protect the association. The one that negotiates our contracts and provides us with professional representation in front of the company and the FAA. We're "standing on the shoulders of giants" if you will. Like it or not, we're blue collar pukes in the eyes of management. We are simply heavy equipment operators.
The problem is that most UAL types are just dunderheads when it comes to scabs and we like to keep things simple. And as such, the idea of "letting it go" is wholly unacceptable. We still hate our scabs and we still (for the most part) shun them. We cooperate as required for the safe operation of the plane. We don't chat, we don't go out to eat with them and we sure as hill don't desecrate a bar by hanging out with them on layovers.
As Paul Cicero said to Henry Hill, "You're dead to me". We just ignore them, we don't accept them.
They only wear pins which they've stolen and that helps with awareness.
***Unfortunately, that obvious identifier has since been seriously bastardized since CAL re-joined ALPA, but that's another thread. Its hard to undo 30 years of past practice.
Its just a different way of dealing with the past and those who stepped over strikers to improve their lot in life. A way that is pretty universal in most unionized labor groups I might ad. Scabs are scabs till they're dead scabs. Its wise for FNGs to be aware of how we got into this mess in the first place. Even though its far too slanted towards the scabs bleating, I think the video is worthwhile.
Thats it. Nothing personal, no chest pounding, just business.
RIP Abe.
Mako,
Your points are all taken and agreed with wholly. My point, is that when I hear the juvenile remarks of anonymous posters, I immediately think: "me thinks though dost protest too much." I don't hold elevators or doors for scabs, I don't look them in the eye or chit-chat with them and therefore, my position on scabs is clear to me, the scab and anyone around in the crew lounge or cockpit that witnesses the interaction. Given the nature of our industry, how many years we work to get this job, and the DOH style of our QOL, attempting to break a strike is far more immoral and devastating to us than most people outside our business know.
The reason I call out two-line posters as juvenile chest thumpers is: how do I know you really treat scabs the way they deserve to be treated? I've seen plenty of guys who talk a big game at the breakfast buffet on a layover and then will act conflicted on how to behave when they see a scab. I don't feel the need to come on this forum and announce my feelings on scabs to the world. I think some don't have the balls to ignore scabs and treat them the way they must be treated. Its not a bad thing to feel weird about being incredibly rude to a stranger. Most of us were brought up to abhor that behavior, but their actions cannot be forgotten. I don't get any enjoyment out of making an already pathetic person feel bad, but it can't be understated what an important tradition it is. It sends a message to all of us and ultimately keeps our jobs safer and our leverage with the company greater.
I personally am skeptical of anybody who feels the need to childishly declare an opinion that we all obviously share. The original post was great, and even jokes and insight about the scum bags that were involved is interesting and worthwhile content. The other stuff, not so much.