Originally Posted by
Dave Fitzgerald
You know, I usually listen critically to Sunvox. He usually has good points, as he does in this thread drift. But a Scab is a Scab, and some are bidding grandfather back.
Sunvox, in this I agree. My dad was an '85 striker at LUAL. He worked in the strike center. I got called by UAL in the middle of AF pilot training inviting me to come out and interview in March of '85. If I ever wanted to speak to my father again, let alone uphold any sense of honor and moral standards, I could not scab. Scabs tried to steal my families livelihood. My families income and security, my education, my bother's education, my mothers retirement.
I do have forgiveness for scabs, as Sunvox proposes, at some point. The moment after death.
^^^^^^This^^^^^^^^
I spent my first 9+ years at United flying mostly with Captains who were hired during the 85 strike. Probably 80% of my flights. Most of the rest were hired in the late 70's, or 86-90. Most of the ones hired post strike got the same letter from United. I don't know how many letters went out inviting pilots for an interview, but it had to be many thousands. The vast majority declined.
Pilots scab for different reasons. Usually they are such magnum weirdos they would never get past the HR department. A lot of them have dodgy credentials, or worse. Some had almost no credentials, and were hired in their early 20's. They knew they were not competitive, or would never be competitive for a job at a major airline.
The pilots hired at both legacy carriers during 83 and 85 have been Captains for 25+ years. At United, they have been 777/747 Captains now for 15+ years, and some have almost 10 more to go as they were hired very young.
As a condition of their being allowed back into the union, they should have surrendered their seniority and went to the back of the pack.
For 30+ years the real, qualified pilots have had to watch a bunch of weirdo, unqualified pilots attempt to learn to fly an airplane. They shouldn't be here, nor should they have been allowed back into ALPA.
Sorry, no forgiveness here.
I usually agree with you Joe, but not on this one.