This is not a change to a checklist.
This lowers the number of line check airmen required and it has a financial impact.
Suddenly allowing first officers to perform work that previously required a captain is pretty clearly a change in our working conditions.
Changes to our working conditions during Section 6 are prohibited by the Railway Labor Act.

Uh, even the AQFO position has been around only a little over a decade or so,concurrent with an expansion to C. and S. America. Where was the "status quo" grievance a dozen years ago? Believe it or not this is not a "Moakist" conspiracy. And what the hell is that anyway... in the real world that is.

Within a month if not sooner these posts will be long forgotten (next to the check box for GS award while flying LOA), to be replaced by another "crisis."

JM is doing a good job managing 100 different things to get us the contract we deserve. Let's let him continue.

The LCA in the JS works usually only when the probie has a line so it can be planned. When I was on reserve this past June the OE planner had to place a turn on my schedule to get the check done. In my case, the LCA was in the left seat for both legs...a MEX turn no less.

That means the FO who was scheduled to fly with the LCA was released with pay. This is how it should be. This new means of conducting probie checks definitely is a status quo change. Another LCA work around.

Not how it works in the 717 in NYC. Every time an FO needs a mid-phase check (and there are lots since new hires cycle through), an LCA sits in the JS and gives both guys a check for 2 legs. Sooo...this new policy could actually be an attempt to help out the captains, who are sometimes subjected to multiple LCA checks in a year and NOT a grand conspiracy to screw us. Just sayin'

You are being naive. Let's look at the big picture.

It allows an FO (lower pay) to do what a captain (higher pay) used to do. It requires fewer higher-paid jobs. That's a problem.

This change was NOT instituted to "help out the captains." Management is actively conspiring to take every cent and shred of leverage they possibly can. The sooner you understand this, the better.

Or...it could be that, like in NY, not enough guys are willing to be LCA and there just aren't enough to accomplish all the checks. Or...it could be a grand conspiracy. All I'm saying is that not every change is 'The Man' trying to keep us down. Let's not spin our wheels on every new shiny thing. Instead, concentrate on 1 or 2 really important things. The Grand Conspiracy may just be to get us chasing so many rabbits, that in the end we just end up tired, confused and right back where we started. Just a thought.

We've had AQFOs for what? A decade? More? How is this different?

How long have AQFOs been doing these new hire check rides?

They used to use Check S.O.s to do the new hire engineer rides. I would think with your screen name you'd have known that : )