Originally Posted by
ThumbsUp
The thought of improving reserve rules through negotiations really only affects one group--the new hires forced into WB FO positions. That's the only group that's getting a long term reserve shoved down their throats with draconian rules. And those guys/gals are what 27 on average? So why would we spend negotiating capital on what amounts to 2 years out of their potentially 38 year career? Wouldn't it be smarter to improve the aspects of the contract that will affect them the most over the course of those 38 years? If you want to upgrade, my crystal ball is that the time to upgrade to a line or under a better reserve system really wouldn't change for someone like you. If the reserve rules stay the same, you're probably looking at maybe 4 years to a line? If reserve rules improve and people flood the vacancies that have been hanging on for that, you're probably looking at the same to just upgrade.
I realize you weren't here, but those of us that got to experience reserve again during COVID for the first time in a while did not experience it in the way that reserves are used today. It was basically months off at guarantee. So if *** hits the fan and we're not flying, putting a large portion of the pilots on reserve again, the rules probably won't matter that much.
My point is this isn't a junior vs senior issue, its getting the most out of negotiations that will affect the most people for the most time. I don't see reserve rules as being very high on a list of things that does that. There are aspects of reserves, however, like wrangling in min levels & g-line manipulation, for instance, that affect everyone fo-eva.
The covid reserve was highly abnormal and not likely to come back in a recession. The company
wanted to keep pilots on property. If furloughs ever occurred for economic reasons it’s unlikely we’d have people sitting around doing nothing, they’d trim the fat until they had just enough to ensure operational integrity
Plus very senior people are sitting WB Captain reserve. It’s something that can affect every single group here except for the insanely small percentage that can hold a WB CA line. Changing bases, equipment, seats, etc. are all hamstrung right now by terrible reserve rules, even among the relatively senior.
My point is that no one knows the next time they’ll end up in a BES they didn’t expect. Why not use some capital during the best negotiation environment in airline history to make it not suck as some insurance?