Swellbar's argument has more holes than Swiss Cheese.

The basic premise of his rant is that UAL/CAL is doing nothing more than DAL/NWA did by swapping out flying to maximize profit. He chastises the UAL/CAL pilots for touting the DAL/NWA as a good example when it meets their needs, but ignoring things like this swapping of flying.

Swellbar, do some effing research. The DAL/NWA pilots had a signed contract BEFORE the merger closed. Whatever they had signed off on as their scope provision was perfectly in play after the merger. The CAL pilots have NOT signed off on 70 seat RJ's flying out of their hubs. If he's too stupid to see the difference then I'm not going to bother reading.

He also suggests that the company is trying to "maximize profit, as they should be" like its some holy grail of an explanation. Well, they should be trying to maximize profit WITHIN THE CONTRACT. Wasn't he a former FA? Then he should remember that trying to maximize profit is ALWAYS at labor's expense. Sad but true. They will take as much as they can at any point, and have no problem begging, borrowing, lying and stealing.

I have to laugh at Swellbar. He suggests that the pilots are trying to be sneaky and picket to gain an upper hand in the negotiations when what its REALLY about is trying to eliminate regional flying and bring it back under the mainline banner. Well freaking DUH dude!! Nobody is suggesting its anything other than that!

ALPA has made some massive errors, no doubt. They have done some things that have angered me almost beyond repair. But what I find most fascinating about Swellbar, and many regional pilots is this: UAL/CAL pilots want to end all RJ flying done beyond our seniority list. Swellbar points out that the pilots have no one to blame for this conundrum but themselves. That's a little simplistic, but whatever. So now that the pilots are trying to exercise our leverage to REVERSE that situation and bring it back they are criticized for "playing games"?? So let me get this right. According to you, ALPA has no one to blame for the RJ debacle but themselves. Ok fine, so now that ALPA is trying to FIX the problem and pickets in that vein we are "playing games"? Typical damned if you do, damned if you don't. I guess the best thing to do in that case is stop listening to the chaff and use the most powerful tool in the arsenal when the time comes.... my contract vote.