Originally Posted by 2cylinderdriver

There are many things that could be discussed in your posting, but here is the simple answer. A Scab is someone who crosses a picket line, either an employed pilot or a new hire to replace striking pilots.

The working extra concept is well covered in most contracts. In general most airlines woud rather be a bit undermanned and have pilots fly some extra for obvious reasons, fewer employees means lower cost. Some airlines through their CBA's have CAP and BANK systems which limit the amount of pay a pilot can earn each month, say 85 hours. If that pilot worked 95 hours that month he would bank 10 hours and the next month if he only flew 75 hours he could use his bank balance to make that month 85. Kind of a simplistic explanation. Some airlines, like mine, have no CAP or BANK, if you can fly it you will be paid it. At my airline it is good and bad. Good for guys who want to work till they die, good for the company because they do not have to hire as many pilots.

The other concept about not working more comes about during contract talks generally. It is a mechanism that can be legally applied when both sides are released into "self help" as defined by the Railway Labor Act.

Hope this helps, there is much more we could talk about but this is a start.