We started with a system where you did not get any pay protection for trips prior to the 24th of each month. If they took your trip you had to find something to pick up or face a low hour month. Eventually we got to the point where you were pay protected for the entire month. What quickly happened is that senior FO's figured out how to sharpshoot the system especially on the international. I had a friend who took a 5 year vacation from Delta. He bid great trips and simply swapped to the senior position on any trips with line checks. The junior FO who was going to have to work the trip anyway so would always swap for a better trip. The company got tired of paying guys for years who never worked. The other thing to keep in mind is that when we had the system junior guys never got removed. Line check trips were highly sought after and swapped for as I mentioned. I don't like our current system and it needs to change. I am not however in favor of a system that allows pilots to never work and draw full pay. In effect the flying pilots have to subsidize that pilots salary. Recovery needs to be cleaned up and it will be in the next contract. Recovery pilots should come after all reserves have been used. I don't mind working for my pay but the rules should be reasonable.