Ok, I have lurked and lurked. I read all the posts here and it is time to get into the mix. A short bio is appropriate since I am new to posting here.

I have been an ALPA member for 15 years. I am strictly civilian and proud of it. I worked my tail off to get my dream job - FedEx and am watching my career starting to spin out of control. I flew at a large national airline for 6 years, then a legacy carrier for 3 years - until 9/11. I am in the right seat here and intend to stay there since seniority is what directly governs quality of life. I have and will continue to attend the Union meetings but I differ from the attitude that is displayed around the crew room and in the meetings. I hope you’ll take the time to read my post, give it some thought, and refrain from bashing just because you disagree with me.

The three most important things to any airline pilot are seniority, seniority and seniority. Seniority has squat to do with experience as it is a function of date of hire and seat position, period. I choose my seat position to exercise my seniority as I see fit. Like it or not, we don’t all hold hands around the campfire and pay each others bills. We each live our own lives, take our own risks, and make our own decisions.

I am absolutely against age 65, but absolutely for an ALPA dues paying member exercising their rights afforded by their seniority. Therefore, I do not hold in contempt that senior wide-body captain for flying his carryover, or make-up. It is his/her right to do that. If you are complaining you are just on the other side of the seniority whipping saw and that is the nature of our industry, get over it. One day, you will be in that senior position and you will be able to reap those benefits, if you so choose.

I have been furloughed 3 times and never had ALPA extract pay from senior pilots to keep me on the property. I am in disbelief that we would consider pay-cuts to keep folks here. For 4,400 pilots to be asked to take a cut in pay to protect 300 crew-members is ridiculous. Call me callous if you want but I have been on the furlough end of the stick 3 times, so I speak from experience. I was furloughed just 3 months after gaining employment flying a B727 and what did the “senior” pilots at my airline do? Nothing, nor did I expect them too. I knew the risks associated with accepting employment as an aviator. Furloughs are part of that risk. I was recalled and flew 4 years till the airline shut down, then put on the streets again. The only thing ALPA did for me was to send me a “how to make a resume” kit. They promised preferential interviews with other ALPA carriers which never came to fruition. I gained employment at a commuter and that led me to my first Major job flying a B767. 9/11 came and I was once again on the streets. No hard feelings, just the nature of the beast. Luckily, FedEx came-a-calling and here I am.

Quite frankly, I am in strong disagreement with anybody that suggests I should take a concession to keep the bottom of our list from becoming what I was on more than one occasion - furloughed. I know the stories, I had bills and a family too. Remember, it’s the risk you take when you are in the business. My seniority insulates me from worrying about being on the street. My seniority allows me to flex my BLG up by bidding carryover and protecting it. Shame on anybody for castigating me for making what choices My seniority affords. And save the “MY” speeches. Keep trying to convince yourself that we are one group that should ebb and flow together. Guys and girls, this isn’t the reality! We are all somewhat “individual contractors” that are merged collectively with a Union pin. We support our Union so they can extract the most economically from the company while also improving quality of life. But we exercise our seniority INDIVIDUALLY! Why can’t you all get this? It would be like being in the military and being a newbie, but ticked off that the squadron commander had a better bed, or a better schedule, or a better whatever. It’s how it works, and when you accepted employment here, you should have known that.

The 3 times I was on the streets, nobody ever floated a “take a pay-cut to keep me flying”. No other airline that I know of has ever taken concessions to keep 300 people on the property. United, Delta and the other big guys are laughing at us right now.

There are inherent risks associated with an airline job. What if I lose my medical? Can I go to the Union and ask that everybody take a 1 hour pay-cut so I can still get a check? No. That’s not how the system works.

I had heard DW floating the idea that “if” we furlough we are going to be hit with an assessment. ****? If we are proffered an assesment via LOA, I will vote no and encourage any and all to do the same.

So quit griping about flying carry-over, or make-up. Your just jealous or lack the experience of knowing how this business works. Do I WANT to see folks furloughed? No. But if it costs me money, then I say show ‘em the door, that’s how this industry always has been. Seniority is what rules our lives, and seniority is a very individual thing.