If a UA mechanic runs an engine or taxis a plane he gets $1 per hour extra for that day only.

Most of us that had taxi run let it expire after about the 3 year late point in the last contract nego so now usually they have to ask through multiple zone rooms to find someone to run a plane. Or they can pay the pilots to do it which costs what $300 or $400 total for the two of them?

The taxi run auth required tests and hoops to jump through for the yearly renewal so while they were hosing us on the contract , didnt feel much like hassling with it for nothing to gain from it.