Originally Posted by
Erroneous
In the end I am the one who should probably apologize. I did not float either time but I can tell you it does burn me to see folks get lumped into a category without any consideration. Quite simply if you are within 5 years of retirement and floating all your vacation the assumption that it is for purely money might be valid. I have no idea what the latest union emails were about but it did not seem like anything more than working on the mental health of our pilot group in light of what I perceive to be an increased suicde rate. It is almost comical, if not so upsetting, that on a current suicide forum everyone is so understanding and yet on another we are willing, if not asking, to publish names and condem individuals with no understanding. Sorry to be the Debby Downer but something’s shouldn’t be done. Unity amongst this pilot group isn’t not calling out and seperating individuals. If anyone has a problem with a fellow pilot we go to Professional Standards, not the company or airing greviences to the masses. Same thing applies here. If anyone has a problem with how I operate or anyone else then sound off to the union and demand they handle it. Unified front to the company while handling issues internally.
Valid points about not lumping everyone into the same category. But the intent of no floating went far beyond the mental health of the pilot group, and this message was displayed more than once in APA emails: it was done in order to display a show of unity by a long row of Zeros down the float column.
Simply said, it’s the senior guys within 5 years of retirement that should be the first ones not to float! I mean, how much are they making as 777/787 captains... and yet they need that extra $15 or $20k that bad?
If I have any empathy for guys who floated it would be the ones who are in dire circumstances.
But when your union asks for a show of unity, you comply knowing and expecting that your union brother and sister next to you has your back by complying as well. That is the most basic foundation of unionism. Everyone sacrifices together for the good of the contract and future contracts.
The company fears one thing the most - that is a Unified pilot group. Nothing else even comes close.