Originally Posted by
Scoop
I agree that there is plenty of reason to be skeptical of VBs and I also agree with your point regarding inertia but that does not mean that we shouldn't try to improve upon our PWA in all areas.
Its not like we are ever going back to days of the "Bow wave" and LOT bidding, but why have limits on pick-ups and then allow work-arounds? If we really care about productivity and improving advancement and more WB A jobs then lets look at all productivity aspects of the PWA equally and not make a stand on some while at the same time allowing others.
Just like we improved (but did not totally eliminate) trip parking we can tighten up on our caps.
Scoop
Because of our upcoming retirements and staffing issues that will develop, I see productivity issues in the same light as scope. Once we relinquish productivity it will be impossible to get back. The company will continue to throw money at the group to make the medicine go down. Until the economics change and the staffing crunch is relieved by reductions in flying, (I hope this is not the case for a long time and not in the magnitude it had been) this will continue.
Right now we have the power to shut down a productivity grab and should do so. The other reforms you speak of are wins the company are not willing to give up without commensurate productivity savings. I see VBs as the low hanging fruit.