Actually, no, it was your "no one is forcing you" argument that was way beneath you.

I too am a half-full guy and you know it. 90% of the time we agree on things. However we should never use phrases such as "no one is forcing you" because junior guys/gals have no choice so yes, someone IS forcing them.
The contract is for all - so you should be cognizant of the contractual boundaries they (we) have to work within. I have a choice, yes. Many don't. If you haven't noticed I often speak out for those who're junior to me because at one point others spoke out for me and other junior pilots when I was in their shoes.

Jumpseating to & from anc is tough because we get bumped so often, sometimes we get rebooked and sometimes we don't. At three gmm meetings I heard that "we're working" on jumpseat improvements. Instead, the automatic double-booking limitation came into place. Management's wet-dream because it's a one-size-fits-all solution. We were simply looking for more seats for P7s.
In the past people listed themselves as soon as the 12 day clock started, they'd just click on several flights. Then they kept the flight with most P3s on it (lowest risk of getting bumped) and they removed themselves from the other flights. Typically within minutes. Instead of dealing with the few who didn't follow the rules we incorporated this draconian one-size-fits-all double booking limitation.

How does it work in reality? Well, when the clock starts basically whatever you click on is yours. (IF you set the timer, have great internet connection, nice computer and quick fingers.)
When you realize you're number 6 of 6 P7s (you WILL get bumped) and there's an earlier flight that has 4 P3s (max allowable) and still has an opening you now have to remove yourself from the flight you already have, you hope no one books the open flight in the meantime, oooops, it's already full, now go back really quick to put yourself back on the flight you just removed yourself from... oooops, it's already taken.. again... A bi-weekly reality show for many...

Now what do you think will happen once all those new hires come on property to fly the -8s? The already scarce jumpseats are only going to get even more difficult to get. In the meantime, every single -8 will be pushing from the gate with 2 empty seats because it's certified for 6 jumpseats even though it has 8. Maybe it'd be too expensive to get the faa to approve it? I don't know. However, there should be a P3 matrix to and from Anchorage. That's what we were hoping for and none of that happened.

Yes, I voted for the contract and yes I knew about this flaw in it. Doesn't mean I won't speak up about issues that are important to Anchorage based crews. ...and yes, had the EB worked out of Anchorage or had most of our managers been based in Anchorage they'd have found a solution within weeks. Out of sight out of mind.

...and to answer your earlier questions and comments:
- yes, in the survey I asked for the first year pay to be raised significantly. Also supported an "averaging out or equalizing of the first two years' pay" suggestion that was floating around.
- don't be jealous of our catering. It's slowly being contaminated with the sdf mindset. Cologne - we order online, possible worst in the system (this is Germany!? The capital of fantastic food!). The latest victim is Honolulu. Now it's all done online, no special orders, no extras... :-(
- "rose-colored glasses" - (idiomatic) An optimistic perception of something; a positive opinion; seeing something in a positive way, often thinking of it as better than it actually is.
That's what I associate rose-colored glasses with. No idea where you got your "cute boys" or Katy Perry association from?? Surely you must've heard this expression before?

I certainly don't view you as a company cool-aid drinker. Not sure why you'd think that? A bit naïve sometimes, especially in few areas of our contract maybe (see above) but the same applies to me and many others. Again, we won't always agree on everything. I am not based in sdf so I don't get all the intricacies of being mothership based and the same applies to you as far as our Anchorage domicile. I have no plans of bidding out of Anchorage and I don't "get worked up about it" but I will be speaking out about it because some people don't have the choice of bidding out of here.
It's a Contract 4 All -> and that includes Anchorage based crews.

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