Originally Posted by
ClipperJet
Now imagine a really. really sharp 4 year FO who is "promoted" to Captain, and allowed to bid ahead of 25 year captains in the company because he/she has more knowledge, skill, work ethic, etc. than any other pilot in the company. Who would agree to that? Very few, I suspect.
I would have absolutely NO QUALMS with that because it would require people to keep sharp in every aspect, it would require people to keep up a good attitude at work, keep people from abusing the system. Ever seen the movie Office Space where Peter Gibbons is interviewing with the efficiency experts - "the Bobs" and he tells them it's not that he's lazy - he just doesn't care? If not, here's the clip.
YouTube - Office Space: Meeting "The Bobs"
Fast forward to 2:10 or so... and then think about it when it comes to union mentality. Why the hell should I show up to work and exhibit anything more than absolute minimum standard just enough to not get fired? What is the motivation or incentive to do anything beyond the bare minimum? Stop and think about this for a minute. Is that professionalism? Is that how a professional is supposed to be treated? In my humble opinion, that's not professionalism. Professionals are given incentives. US airline pilots are not. The incentive for US airline pilots is to not get fired between date-of-hire and upgrade. That's it...
Now let's take a look at it from the other angle that you bring up - really, really, really sharp 4th or 5th year FO's... Who wins in this scenario? Let's see, everyone has to bring forward their best and has the incentive to do so.. Who wins? The passengers/customers, the shareholders/our employer, and you may not see it this way, but you as an employee win here - your promotion is based on something OTHER than your date-of-hire. It's funny how the union mentality forgets who pays their salary or why are they even there. It's also interesting you mention 25 year captains and their bidding rights. How about 25 year flight attendants - you know, the sky queens with attitudes? I work overseas, but when I come to the US on vacation, I avoid US airlines like a plague. Why? Because I want superior customer service provided by friendly, good looking flight attendants, and not some 40 year bitter "airline veterans" finally "senior enough to bid an ABC international trip because it credits XX hours and is a cool layover." Just about every other American at my company is the same way - all avoid flying on US airlines. Mind you, we have a choice of carriers for our vacation.
I said this before...unlike airlines, every other profession mentioned allows members to be promoted "out of order. The "best" people are promoted ahead of the "above average" folks. Every day. They bring in "new" people from other firms, and promote people from within.
Meeting the minimum standards (although they are indeed very, very high standards) will keep you moving smartly up the airline seniority list. Dwight Schrute notwithstanding, It will NOT keep you moving up the corperate ladder to partner, chief of surgery, regional manager, etc. etc. etc.
Meeting the minimum standards should not be a basis for promotion. It should be a basis for you to keep your job. You should do more than the bare minimum and simply existing to get promoted - just my opinion.
Our industry is different. We have to address this issue if we want to advocate a change in the seniority system that would include "seniority portability."
How about approaching it from the standpoint of "professional worth" and not in terms of "seniority." Just a thought... you're trying to reclaim the profession, right?