Originally Posted by
NeverFlexTO
Pilots have all the leverage now, because airlines are making money hand over fist...personal opinion but I think United pilots would never relax RJ scope, once you give something up, you’ll never get it back. Not one single friend that works at UAL said they would vote for a TA that would allow what your proposing, there’s a changing of the guards at all majors going on right now. No longer are scales tipped to ex military pilots with little regard for RJ scope. You’re seeing a movement of ex-regional pilots who were beat down for the last 10-15 years and strong educational pieces from MECs about the consequences of relieving scope clauses. While I understand this is how things have gone, I truly feel the tide has/is changing...
Two major expenses for airlines: fuel and labor...fuel will always be a variable cost, but regionals and joint ventures are helping maximize profits at the majors because its significantly reducing labor costs by not having mainline pilots do the flying. Basic economics, supply and demand...
Those RJ pilots also saw mainline guys get furloughed while regionals were hiring like crazy and the mainline guys were either getting treated like a newhire at a regional or delivering pizzas. Furlough protection is a big deal. UAL will use the threat of the 550 with no protection, or scope relief and furlough protection through a flow down at a regional, most likely Mana Air. It will be a no brainer in the end. In one case you get a bunch of 550s you have no rights to (which are allowed under the current contract), or you make a deal to relax scope and get furlough protection so if a furlough ever happens again, regional pilots, not mainline pilots will be hitting the street.
The gauntlet has been laid down with the 550 and that negates some of the leverage on scope.