Originally Posted by
SpecialTracking
You missed my point. While I benefitted from the temporary PTC plus, I applaud the MEC in looking out for the group as a whole and pulling the plug. I agree, issues surrounding the parking of the -400 vs the PTC issue are completely different. My question soley surrounds the pilot reaction in each case.
The picture above has nothing to do with the PTC issue or the parking of the -400s. It did lead me to wonder how the pilots reacted when the MEC wisely decided to park a SNJ almost 30 years ago and how would today's pilot group react if they were faced with the same situation. The current PTC issue, which I think pales in comparison to the events of 30 years ago elicited an outrage of "ME". As in the MEC cost "ME" money. Some even went as far to allude that it disadvantaged the junior pilot over those more senior as it relates to BES.
Did the pilots of 30 years ago voice an outrage of "ME"? Judging pilot reaction, especially under different circumstances, serves as a portrait of the pilot group. It also serves as a guide of the work to be done.
Ok, well, in that case good question. 1989. If I remember right, this was also used to expedite contract talks that year. It got very expensive very fast to have those planes sitting. I left for a while to desert storm, so I don't know exactly the finer details of how the contract got finished up, but the 2 400's sitting were a big part of it.
From what I remember, the pilots, except the newly minted scabs, were very unified. Absolutely no one wanted those first 2 planes to move, even an inch. The only people flying the planes were management stooges, "for currency." Many of you may remember, the scabs hid out in TK and management positions so they didn't have to fly the line and get abused. No revenue flights. Both the planes sat at the SFO service center right next to the pilots parking lot as a reminder.
In fact, Ferris sued in court to get the pilots to fly the planes without a pay scale. UAL lost. Those were different times and the courts were not so management friendly.
No one was complaining about not flying it, mainly because it was thought, and rightly so, that it should have paid more than the rope start. None of this pay banding nonsense.
In comparison to today's PTC issue? I'm a bit disappointed at the complaining about the MEC's decision. I thought they explained their reasoning quite well in their explanation letter. I think it will eventually be for the greater good. In large part, anyone on the property with less than 10 years, meaning 9-11 and bankruptcy, really don't know how good we have it today.