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)
I usually like your posts even if I don't always agree with them. But you are really missing the point of PBs and Rolling Thunder.
It's not about everyone bidding RSV or everyone getting PBs. I have sat a lot of RSV but never Rolled Thunder, and probably never will because I need to know at least some of my off days in advance of the month starting.
Just because I don't personally use it doesn't mean I don't see the benefit to the pilot group. How jammed up does CS get because of Rolling Thunder or even just a few PBs sprinkled on a RSV pilot's sked? How many more GSs or even good deal WSs go out to lineholders because of RSV GSing? I bet quite a bit.
In addition, and
most importantly, PBs severely penalize them for 'running a little hot.' I'm pretty sure this summer would have been a staffing
mess no matter what. But maybe,
just maybe PBs and Rolling Thunder will make them think twice about trying that next summer (cue jokes about air line management and longterm planning).
If we toss PBs what incentive do they have to
ever go back to a 'normal operation'? Instead we'll just see every summer run this way except there will be no way for RSVs to have bare able skeds.