Originally Posted by
ecam
I always get a little chuckle of how amateur lawyer pilots INSIST how air tight their scope clauses are, and brag about the severe penalties that will rain down for disrespecting their authorit-ay. Then in a few years, the real lawyers, who make millions a year to do this, find a loophole, bribe them, or back them into a corner to the scope line moves again. Wash, rinse repeat.
I think the possibility of SkyWest operating the MRJ on the ASQ certificate actually makes a lot of sense. And despite blathering and chest thumping by legacy pilots online, they will most likely get away with it. Worst case scenario, SkyWest tells DAL to pound sand. That relationship isn't the greatest anyhow.
The solution is, and always has been one list for all. No more alter ego, no more 2nd/3rd tier pilots. All branded aircraft flown by pilots on that seniority list.
Unfortunately, this battle has been fought and litigated since the late 90s and instead of the logical, but undesired solution, short sighted legacy pilots keep trying to build higher border walls instead of welcome stations. As long as they keep doing that, management will keep winning.
The "walls" you bemoan, ie "scope clauses" are the legacy pilots only attempts to stem the tide of Airline Mgmts attempt to place all flying as at "regional" rates.
US Pilots are expensive.
There's no doubt about it that left to their own devices, airline mgmt would hire regional airline contractors to fly all domestic narrowbody aircraft and would codeshare/JV all international flying.
This would allow them to control labor completely by taking away flying whenever any particular group started to get "too expensive".