Originally Posted by
DeltaboundRedux
Indeed.
Everyone should bid reserve, no matter seniority, base, equipment type, staffing, or position, and they too may have this amazing GS/bank days lifestyle.
All 15,000 of us.
I’ve no prob with anyone who exercised a negotiated contractual benefit. Since at least half (probably much more) of the group will never be able to “roll thunder” though, I don’t care very much if it gets tweaked.
In normal times, this wasn’t an issue. In 2022, it’s pretty clear luck of the draw provided unanticipated windfalls for some.
Especially if the tweaking provides overall benefits for the many, not the few. With biases for the senior, not the junior (union shop, seniority has preference. I don’t write the rules, but union shop seniority rules are well understood to be biased towards hire date)
Dude, half or more CAN roll thunder. I did it in April as 100% in category. There was NOBODY junior to me that was actually flying (some in OE/Sims/Converted but none actually flying)
Manning is so bad that you don't have to be a top 10 percenter. I was just very flexible with days off, wanted a day off (that I worked it to have a PB day on) and was honestly trying to make up for being out on Mil Leave for over a year which was a 40% paycut from ER FO pay. . (I am not the usual paygrade you would expect a reserve pilot of my age to be, to put it mildly)
I could have rolled thunder 2 more months since if I cared to, but I valued the days I had off more. I did take a couple tactical GSs to get PB days on days I wanted off in July and August. This "only half can ever roll thunder" is a crock of crap. Maybe in some senior category, but not in NYC NB Captain, any NY FO except maybe 330, and ATL FO. Have friend who are somewhere in the "can't hold a line if they wanted to" seniority range that could roll thunder. Manning is that bad.