Originally Posted by
Eric Stratton
I guess when I read 1900's post I don't see it as being disrespectful at all. He said he wants to work at a major but the way everyone keeps loosening scope he might be better off staying if the trend continues. He just wants to know why. In all honesty I felt your reply was more disrespectful than his because you said it doesn't affect him at all.
The way to fix the loosening of scope is to stop it. It shouldn't even be an option at the negociating table. Be the opposite of Nike, Just Don't Do It!
If a customer asked why something happened I'd tell them.
I've had discussions with guys at other airlines about scope and I have told them that it should be shot down on the scope clause alone. It is something that I highly doubt they will ever be able to get back. This was while in the jump seat as well. Sometimes there needs to be tough discussions.
You ask how a person would feel about losing their job and hearing 1900 complain. I would think they would be on his side. Having been a person who lost a job after 9-11 it absolutely floored me when united and Usair gave away more flying while laying off pilots. My initial thought was that any new 50 seaters would start going to the major (even at the low pay) just so that guys don't get furloughed. Due to scope language. That didn't happen and they actually gave away bigger airplanes. If those airplane weren't given up I'm betting the furloughed pilots might have been recalled quicker. Loosening scope just adds to the number of $15,000 FO jobs out their.
So is their any truth to the rumor about parking all of the dc9-30's? How is the scope language worded? can they actually shrink mainline to lower the floor or something like that to make it easier to get more 76 seater's. Is the ratio based on growth or new airplanes?
I thought 1900's post sounded a little disrespectful. You never hear them complain when they get there first airline job because someone gave up scope. Only when they realize they want to advance and that seat is no longer there.
As far as "just don't do it!". That sounds good but Scope is just one part of the contract. If pilots say they will not even open it (scope) then they will have to give somewhere else(pay,vacation,sick,work rules,etc.). Some pilots could not afford to give up anymore pay,vac.,sick,etc. and survive. So to save a higher paying job they caved on scope and other stuff. And before you say you will never get the planes back. It's not going to be easy to get anything back. When contracts open all you are going to here is "cost neutral"
This is also a two way street. Everyone say that majors sould not give up anymore scope. Well the reigonals should stop taking bigger and bigger planes. When the company says they want pay rates for 90,100,120 seat airplanes say NO! Tell them you do not want them.