TLDR: +1 vote for improvements can be made without costing you your extra dollar of pay next round. Fixing the system benefits you, whether on reserve or not, senior or not.
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Its been said, but the goal is really to capitalize on the fact that so many pilots want different things. Some don't want to work. some want to maximize money. Some want the most money for the least work. Some want specific days off, some will pick up every FSB they can, commutable schedules, etc. etc. etc.
The current FIFO system does not do this. Changing to a system that allows more preference on pick ups benefits everybody, even senior guys, even the company.
When something benefits senior guys, it then benefits junior guys. There are a lot of old dudes that would change their line bid to reserve in a heartbeat if it was more like Delta's. This would benefit junior guys that want to fly a line, or have their weekends off, or the dozen other preference items that would open if we allowed more preference.
This helps the company too. FIFO is mediocre at best for 90% of those on reserve. It prioritizes giving people the same treatment at the cost of the potential good deal for someone that would pick it up.
If we got a system that allowed for more preference in pick ups (seniority based), people would be more inclined to pick up the trips they want. The schedule would probably be covered much better, they'd have to call much less, and there there would be a lot less anxious schedulers/supervisors trying playing Jenga with the schedule/answer up the chain on coverage.
I have a friend that is moderately senior with Delta (13 years). He likes to maximize time off + home time, and with their system he can. He literally does not fly from Sep to March except for a landings class and the occasional pick up. I don't think he gets many short calls. He bids reserve in NY but lives in Dallas. During that time he works another job, practically full time (his employer is ok knowing the chances he might get called). He chooses to commute to reserve and loves it, even though he could easily hold a line with a great schedule. Half the year he gets another paycheck, and sleeps in his bed every night. I'm sure there are a lot of guys in their 60's that would bid like this, and open up their good deal, weekend off, etc. trips to you.
I think we could have this. Those that say, "I'd rather make an extra dollar than fix reserve"...well, that could be a little bit of a false dichotomy. Especially if the company knew they'd be better off with improvements. Yes, they would try to keep a strong position bargaining and threaten the 10 am rule, or no pay for short calls. They know we're not going to budge on those items. If they really knew this would reduce their costs and increase efficiency, they'd bite. Might as well try next round anyway, this leadership team seems to show more interest historically than the others in making improvements.