I started 8/8 and we are finishing systems next week and have sims starting immediately with 0 days off and FTDs starting immediately also. Checkride scheduled for Sep 31st.

 

Thanks again for explaining about branded regionals and we are not and never will be like or equal to mainline. I'm sure that's what I and others were thinking, like we didn't know it. (Please explain it to the IRS though since they consider us equal for our 401k) I know I wasn't in a minority. It was only about the 2 passes since we were affected equally and nothing more. Very petty overall anyway and yes things have improved after our pay cut.

Why is it regional pilots have to be considered foolish or whining when we complain? Your right, it hasn't worked yet since mainline gave up scope under our antiquated "Jim Crow laws" that we are working under.

"In the past year, mainline pilots – represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) – have largely thrown their regional counterparts under a bus on safety, suggesting that outsourcing to franchises is dangerous. But, in fact, ALPA has been doing that for years. Regional pay scales that shocked so many after the Colgan accident had been set by duly negotiated contracts between regional pilots – also represented by ALPA. This did not result from some stingy, scrooge-like effort by management; it was standard operating labor procedures that used scope as liberalization currency to wrest gains for mainline pilots, which ultimately came at the expense of their regional counterparts. With friends like that..…as the saying goes."
Bill Swelbar, MIT International Center for Air Transportation Research Engineer

 

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Ah, the Dan Ford/Cooksley/Joe Merchant mentality. Mean evil ALPA is oppressing you like a klansman or something, monetizing your suffering for great success at the mainline plantation/prison camp/killing fields, etc. :roll eyes:

Maybe you should form a group and sue to take your seniority there and attempt to carry some or all of it to mainline. Why rely on the "underground railroad" of the SSP to end the suffering of some, when you could instead work towards a 13th amendment to ALPA policy, finally ending the source of treachery and hate? :roll eyes:

Any mainline is going to be different and separate (and almost always not equal) to regionals, other majors, LCCs, ULCCs, cargo operators and foreign airlines. Including those in the overall umbrella "family" within any global network. You're not a victim because of that. Everyone's hiring. A lot. Like right now. Including the very airline/seniority list that you apparently think you *should* be a part of. And they are hiring from your airline a lot. And so is everyone else. If things are so bad under your so called "Jim Crow laws" :roll eyes: then why not move on?

 

So what you say is that everything between mainline and regionals are exactly equal and treated equally across the board? Is that correct. We have nothing to complain about because everyone is hiring? No need to fix anything when the hiring stops again.

 

Nope. Not even close.

Regionals are in general worse. Its always been that way. You can feel hurt/oppressed about it, move on, or find a microclimate and thrive there. Some do that and good for them.

But this grand injustice you're trying to cling to just doesn't work. No one buys it anymore. You work for a separate company. That its WO'd doesn't entitle you to anything.

What exactly do you expect or think would be fair? To take your seniority and bid DL equipment? To have everything else in our PWA? Knowing for 100% certainty neither is ever going to happen, do you plan on staying there or moving on? Just curious.

 

Nope, I think the system was broken at the front end after the first time scope was relaxed. Regionals will always get the short end going against a mainline and have limited power to fight or fix something without a mainline partner or ALPA's help. Regional system needs to go away as it exists now today and all hiring done at the mainline. NEVER to be a DOH for a regional pilot.

 

On a brighter note....

 

Agreed. Mainline pilots definitely dropped the ball numerous times.

What are your thoughts on our management's typical approach to scope lately whereby they want to shrink DCI seats and block hours (probably only nominally this time, especially seats) in exchange for more 76ers but less hulls/hours/seats overall?

Personally I don't like it because it breaths some degree of life and sustainability into the regional model going forward. However the case could be made that it does indeed shrink the size of regionals and transfers a little of the pilot count to mainline.

 

In a nutshell I agree 100% everything you previously stated. The current system breeds discrimination against regionals. Don't think that was the original intent but it is the outcome. If management goes to you at mainline and says we want to cut pay and benefits at top for the heavy drivers all ho*y h*ll breaks loose and going to be a big fight. When they go to a regional like Endeavor not much happens when pay is going to be cut. Yes it continues to improve and we may be the best in the industry now thanks to Delta but still a regional in the end. The only way for it to end is for it to cease to exist and become part of the mainline again. Not at the expense of any mainline pilot in pay, position or benefit however!