Ifoundyourplane:

AV8OR: I understand how you night catch a wiff of socialism/communism with the NSL idea, but I respectfully disagree. The difference, in my opinion is in that the people (pilots) would be initiating and running things, not the government requiring membership and pretending it's because the people want it. Think of it as the way ALPA should work.

We bind our own hands in this industry by whipsawing and berating each other. For example, you can read an entire thread about how GJ/Mesa/Colgan pilots are scum and then those pilots will turn around and say that Comair/Pinnacle/Republic pilots are scum. This is solidarity? We're all supposed to be on the same team here.

Well, I am confused now… You want solidarity yet you think it’s ok for let’s say Gojet pilots to be taking jobs away from their TSA brothers and sisters? When Gojet was formed their whole premise was for the TSA Holdings management to circumnavigate dealings with the TSA union and while TSA pilots were being let go they were hiring to their Gojet unit… Where was the solidarity then?

We're too busy fighting each other to make any real progress. Again, example: If we had an NSL GJ would either not exist, the pilots would be perfectly acceptable as they would be on the seniority list, or they would be scabs. (This is not a GJ discussion, just the best example I could think of). Maybe it shouldn't be called an NSL. Maybe the name throws people off - they think of it as this big communist machine. It would simply be pilots uniting in one seniority list. Maybe the United Seniority List? That sounds a little more patriotic.

As for when people would join the list, when do they join now? Cropdusters, CFI's, and banner towers don't belong to ALPA, and they wouldn't be on an NSL. You could basically apply the principle that if it would qualify you for an ALPA membership, it would qualify you for a spot on the NSL.

Well my airline does not belong to ALPA (IPA) so are we out? Also, if the NSL took effect I can guarantee you that all the pilots at those small operators would actively seek a membership in ALPA – would you tell them sorry, you’re just not important enough?

As for why HR would hire a 15 year pilot compared to a newbie, maybe there could be a clause in the National Contract that requires priority for current and qualified NSL members. That may be a good option. Remember, there would be ONE contract. Not one for every pilot group, because there would be ONE pilot group. I also read on here the idea that we would basically be contract pilots, similar to an electrician working out of the union hall.

I'm not claiming to have all the answers, this just seems like a good solution to our collective problem. Imagine, maybe with an NSL we'd actually get enough people interested in union business to make a difference. Some of the numbers of pilots on the seniority list compared to those who turn out for a vote are disgusting. Anyway I'm done preaching...

I’m sorry, I'm willing to listen and to discuss but I still think a National List is a horrendous idea… Not practical but also extremely unfair to those who researched/gambled/lucked out (whatever your preference) in choosing the ‘right’ airline for their long term career…

I’m fed up with subsidizing mortgages for those who bought houses they couldn’t afford… I know this is going to sound very cold but I do not think I should have to subsidize other pilots’ career progression if their airline goes out of business…

Similarly, if my company goes belly up a few years down the road I will not expect for you or anyone else to slow down your current progression (a.k.a. earnings, benefits, schedules, etc.) just because I had bad luck…

I believe that having many airlines is good for the competition and for our job choices but so is having many unions…

No, I haven't found my plane yet. I hear Comair has it parked in CVG... Saving gas that way at least.

I think I saw it, it was being painted in UnitedUSFedUPSDeltaContinental Airways colors now that the NSL forced all the airlines to merge into this one National Airline List behemoth…