Originally Posted by
Packrat
The problem for reserve contract improvement language is the fact that the guys on reserve are:
1. Junior in both seats.
2. A minority of the pilot group.
As such the NC and MEC are more inclined to spend their "negotiating capital" on pay and work rules (scheduling, etc.) that benefit the majority of the pilot group. If your LEC reps can convince them to make reserve rules changes a priority then go for it.
However, since the advent of block representation, the small base F/Os pretty much lost their voice and vote at the MEC level.
Then this is a failure of our union leadership. All of us should find it tolerable to live under every section of the contract. Besides, ignoring reserve language is incredibly shortsighted for senior F.O.’s as they will be living under those rules as Jr. CA’s. So if every F.O. and the Jr. CA’s hold the line on demanding better reserve language, that would be close to 2/3’s of the list. The union can’t brush that aside.