Originally Posted by
acl65pilot
I agree 100%. Unity at the National level. Of course a prenup that protects people like Joe from guys like me who left that job for this one. If I want to fly an RJ, I bid below him, but keep a system seniority number that is higher than his. It protects his expectations, and mine. It includes ALPA DCI carriers only.
As for the "Delta" standard; Yep, there are some at DCI that should/could not make it here at DAL but the same can be said here. NWA had pilots DAL did not want and DAL had/has pilots NWA did not what. Simple fact, as with the flow though agreements, DAL can had will terminate a pilot if they are not meeting a standard. DAL could and would do the same thing if this sort of thing was agreed too.
Recapturing flying is very important, but one must realize that there is strength gained by not ostracizing these pilots. Leverage and unity are gained by allowing them to become part of the Delta system when we are successful in our goals. It give value to the industry, profession and out union. The fact that this logic fails most people is quite telling about where we are today as a profession.
The SLI would look at the needs of both parties and all the issues that people think will be a huge deal can be dealt with quite easily. Look at all the angst that everyone had over the last integration and how the bids have actually worked out. Rather than people "stealing' each other's jobs, mostly people have worked themselves into a better commute or no commute with the pain/gain from the restructuring spread throughout the list.
I came up through the military, flew as an instructor and fighters, and I saw all kinds of pilots good and less good. What you fly and where you came from are not indicative of your flying skills. Some of the best pilots I ever saw were ex WWII pilots that flew Super Cubs at the AF Academy. Rather than get caught up in stereotypes, we should examine the course that increases the power of our pilot group to negotiate better contracts. I want more money and therefore I want to find the path that gets me more money. In my opinion, we will have a difficult time raising up the mainline unless the smaller jet pilots rise up along with us. It seems easier to do if we have one pilot group and one voice.