Cargo will almost assuredly be good for the company.

Will it be good for the pilot group or will it be good almost exclusively for a small segment of senior pilots? The cargo trips will be charters. That means they will pay premium but be bid on as straight. That means there will be no sniping from junior guys and no opportunity for junior guys to swipe the trip from a more senior guy going for the premium - because the senior guy will bid the straight pay column and get paid premium. Junior guys, excepting ones in cartel situations or getting lucky on occasion, will not directly reap the benefit of cargo flights.

I’m personally all in favor of cargo flights for several reasons. But I’m opposed to them as it stands now (haven’t seen the wording of the MOU yet) if it means we’re not getting something that benefits a wider portion of the pilot group. Many have suggested resolving X number of grievances in exchange for us approving cargo. That’s one possibility. Or, just spit-balling: how about a not-insignificant bonus for every pilot on the seniority list on the date of approval of cargo-only operations after the company achieves a set of very specific profitability measures? That would mean even if you end up furloughed, you still get the bonus.