Originally Posted by
fireman0174
Before the UAL strike in 1985 the company provided orange bag tags to indicate flight crew luggage that should be put aside the belt loader for loading last and pulled off first from manual cargo pits.
The company also had a computer code of PF and PNF to indicate on its paperwork whether the named pilot was Pilot Flying or Pilot Not Flying for this particular flight.
Somebody made orange stickers with PNF in bold letters. These to be prominently displayed wherever – luggage, uniform coat lapels, cockpit, uniform hat (normal back then) and even bathroom stalls.
Yes, the company saw these, but the real audience was your fellow pilot. You were making a show of support for possible strike action and most importantly, support of your fellow pilots.
Exactly. It’s a show of unity. Before the transition from the gray VX uniform to the white shirts, I saw that orange lanyard and thought, with all our differences of opinions, we’re really on the same team and fighting the same fight. Unfortunately, some guys will wear the orange on a Monday and pick up a premium trip on a Tuesday. Helll, some guys will wear the orange WHILE flying a picked up trip.