Originally Posted by
CQKSNT
With all due respect sir, this is flawed thinking. While it’s understandable that one could fall into this trap after decades of the schtick, it is entitlement to think your opinion holds more weight than someone hired after you. Seniority determines things like pay rate, first pick on schedules, bases, aircraft, and seat; it doesn’t grant a disproportionate amount of influence or more than 1 vote.
it is not meant to be an insult.. just the opposite.
Today a senior pilot was unanimously voted in as our MEC Chair. Why wasn’t a new hire or 2-3 year hire who just finished their left seat upgrade?
Is it because GT may have more experience due to the fact that he has been here a while? More experiences that shape his opinions?
It is my understanding that we have hired pilots who are in their 50’s and even 60. Those pilots are not junior when it comes to age or life experience, but they are junior when it comes to United Pilot group experience.
We ALL get a vote on the contract, and hopefully we all have a say in how & what is negotiated.
We have all been taught that we are a team. That CRM & TEM are key. That someone needs to be the functional leader.
Guess it sucks to have a pecking order, but that is the real world.
Every pilot here probably has a wish list of what they want. But someone has to negotiate the final language and only then will you and I get a vote.
I think back to CAL as a newhire. We were offered LTD (though no health insurance for the first 6 months!) but if you didn’t take the LTD.. you couldn’t get into it later. Many junior pilots in my class opted out.. as they didn’t want to pay for,it when we were already only making $33 an hour!
Senior pilots tried to explain it to them.. but for some, it didn’t take,
When we are young we feel invincible. Nothing can stop us. But isn’t seniority within a group worth something?
IF someone feels offended by my view and words I won’t apologize but merely say it’s not meant to smear. If you (not this poster, CQK) take offense by it, so be it.
Come up to me at the next council meeting.. we’ll talk! Never hidden my name. We are all entitled to our opinions and shouldn’t be afraid to voice them. To me, It’s about comm and getting the message out about our history.
For the record too- every LUAL pilot I know told me how they were told (when hired) that they were at the top of the food chain. A healthy pension when they retired.. dignity and respect!
Ask yourself- what happened to it? Where did their pension go? Top of the food chain? D&R? Was that what was offered to this pilot group last June?
Always
Motch