You are 100% correct. And I wish more people understood this. I think people with previous 121 background who understand how the system has worked in the past decade get it. This "forced upgrade" does not go into effect until the Fall of 2024, so there's literally a year where we will all get to test and see how this contract actually does its thing behind the scenes in re: RSV rules and improved QOL where there is any.

This delay in implementation may therefore make the whole "forced upgrade" a moot point and may not even be required - but let's say Fall of 2024 comes along and we still have a CA problem - well.......whoever comes to United at that point will be well aware that it may happen to them and it's something they have chosen to accept by applying here. Let's not forget that Part 121 rules require 1000 hours of SIC on a jet in order to upgrade - meaning, the 350 hour requirement may not qualify the new hire anyway.

Let's look further into that fact:

§ 121.436 Pilot Qualification: Certificates and experience requirements.(a) No certificate holder may use nor may any pilot act as pilot in command of an aircraft (or as second in command of an aircraft in a flag or supplemental operation that requires three or more pilots) unless the pilot:

(3) If serving as pilot in command in part 121 operations, has 1,000 hours as:

(i) Second in command in operations under this part;

(ii) Pilot in command in operations under § 91.1053(a)(2)(i) of this chapter;

(iii) Pilot in command in operations under § 135.243(a)(1) of this chapter;

(iv) Pilot in command in eligible on-demand operations that require the pilot to satisfy § 135.4(a)(2)(ii)(A) of this chapter; or

(v) Any combination thereof.

(c) For the purpose of satisfying the flight hour requirement in paragraph (a)(3) of this section, a pilot may credit 500 hours of military flight time provided the flight time was obtained—

(1) As pilot in command in a multiengine, turbine-powered, fixed-wing airplane or powered-lift aircraft, or any combination thereof; and

(2) In an operation requiring more than one pilot.

In other news, European and South American pilots who make less than half of what we make and are exposed to way worse QOL while still flying the same airplanes and in even worse environments than we do, are reading this tread and shaking their heads. I always like to throw a bit of perspective into the mix, even though some may regard that as irrelevant. I respect everyone who chooses to vote No, but I do agree with the other poster that perhaps half of the NO voters would most likely vote YES if they felt this would not pass.